Steelers Support of Kenny Pickett 'Embarrassing'

The Pittsburgh Steelers are under fire for the way they handled Kenny Pickett.

Dec 3, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) warms up as quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan (left) looks on before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- Did the Pittsburgh Steelers set Kenny Pickett up to fail? The question remains a hot topic of conversation between those who have watched the team over the last three years, and one NFL analyst is hammering his answer home ahead of the 2024 campaign.

When Pickett was drafted in the first round, the expectation was that he'd sit behind Mitch Trubisky and compete for a starting spot in year two. That didn't happen, as Trubisky was pulled in just Week 4 of Pickett's rookie season.

From there, Pickett operated an offense under a coordinator that made Steelers history in the wrong way - being fired midseason for the first time under Mike Tomlin's reign. From there, Pickett finished his second season with his running backs and quarterbacks coach operating as co-offensive coordinators. Eventually, Mason Rudolph claimed the starting gig.

NFL analyst Warren Sharp believes it was all the pieces to the puzzle that set Pickett up for failure in Pittsburgh.

"If you draft a QB in the first round, and then feed him to the wolves that are Matt Canada’s play calls as a rookie, and then don’t realize Canada sucks and keep him in 2023, guaranteeing another offseason without good offensive tutelage, and then fire Canada midseason, but replace him with a tandem of two coaches who have never called plays in the NFL before, what are you expecting that you’ll get?

"I’m not pro-Pickett, but the way the Steelers “supported” their first round QB and hopeful heir apparent to Big Ben was embarrassing," Sharp wrote in his book 2024 Football Preview.

Pickett has since moved on, but is in a tougher spot as he moves forward. Now with the Philadelphia Eagles, the former first round pick is operating as the backup behind Jalen Hurts. While Pickett is embracing the change as a good one, his road to be a starting quarterback again certainly got more challenging.

"Change is a great thing. I’m going through it right now," Pickett recently said. "I was in Pittsburgh for seven years and now I’m over in Philadelphia… I think a lot of people probably have some negative views on change, but that’s really just your outlook on it. I think if you keep a positive mindset, it’ll all work out for the better."

Only time will tell if Pickett's NFL career can rebound. As for the Steelers, they may never know if they damaged his career, but with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields competing for the starting job, it's hard to imagine they're thinking about their former quarterback much.

Make sure you bookmark All Steelers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more

• Steelers Opponent Hints at Starting QB
• Steelers Get Return Price for Patrick Peterson
• T.J. Watt Has New Competition for DPOY
• Insider Gives Brutally Honest Take on Steelers WR Search
• Steelers Rival Believes He's Best QB in NFL

Subscribe to the All Steelers YouTube Channel