Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Responds to Ben Roethlisberger Admitting He Underestimated Rookie

The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie loved the praise from the future Hall of Famer.

PITTSBURGH -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger admitted recently that he was "severely underestimated" currently QB Kenny Pickett. And on his latest episode of 'Footbahlin,' he said how excited he was to be wrong. 

"I severely, in my opinion, underestimated Kenny," Roethlisberger said. "I think he throws the ball better than I thought, he runs it way better than I expected and thought his decision making is really really good. His leadership, his toughness, [he has] just enough of an edge to him it looks like. So, I apologize, not that I made this vocal to anybody else, but in my own head."

Pickett has heard the words from Roethlisberger and summed up his response quite simply. 

"Awesome. Just awesome,” he told the Athletic’s Mark Kaboly.

"It means the world to me to earn his respect,” Pickett said. “I have a long way to go, but I appreciate him saying that. It is special that a Hall of Fame quarterback like that would say that."

Pickett has kept the Steelers' playoff hopes alive with back-to-back game-winning drives in the last two weeks. 

Roethlisberger and Pickett have both said they have been in contact before and Big Ben has told him to reach out for advise. And with what he sees now, he believes the rookie is only getting started. 

"Kenny, keep doing what you're doing because you are leading this team and becoming the guy that everyone was hoping you would be," Roethlisberger said. "I think the sky is the limit for him, really."

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