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What Mike Tomlin Reportedly Told Kenny Pickett About Russell Wilson

March 16, 2024 by The Spun

PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 2: Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin talk on the sideline against the New York Jets during a game at Acrisure Stadium on October 2, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Things appear to have gone sideways between the Pittsburgh Steelers and their now-former starting quarterback Kenny Pickett very quickly after the team signed quarterback Russell Wilson.

Mere hours after Wilson signed on the dotted line, the Steelers traded Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles despite prior rumors that Pickett was in line to sit and learn behind Wilson for one year. 

So where did things go wrong between Pickett and head coach Mike Tomlin?

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, things apparently went “sideways” after Tomlin previously promised Pickett that he would get a chance to compete for the starting job in 2024. But after the Steelers internally revealed their plans to pursue Wilson, Tomlin apparently told Pickett that Wilson was the frontrunner for the job instead.

In the aftermath, Pickett asked for a trade and today he got his wish.

“How did this go sideways? Mike Tomlin had promised Kenny Pickett he’d get a chance to compete. Pickett learned about the Russell Wilson signing on social media Sunday night. When they spoke the next morning, Tomlin told Pickett that Wilson was in pole position and would get the first reps. So, Pickett asked for a trade. Now he’s an Eagle,” Pelissero wrote.

On one hand, it’s not exactly a good look for Tomlin to be going back on his word if he gave it to Pickett. 

But it’s a far worse look for Pickett to demand out of Pittsburgh when the team changed course – especially after two years as a starter that were so lackluster that the team was getting more production from its second- and third-string quarterbacks at times.

Regardless, a divorce that once seemed only possible quickly became inevitable and now Pickett finds himself firmly planted on the bench behind Eagles star Jalen Hurts for the foreseeable future.

Filed Under: Steelers

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