The 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers aren't exactly viewed around the league as Super Bowl contenders.  

But their fans, players, and alumni beg to differ, as the standard for excellence in Pittsburgh was established a long time ago. 

Part of that excellence starts at the quarterback position, something Pittsburgh hopes to see from Kenny Pickett. But as if he needed any more pressure, one Steelers legend just placed even more on Pickett's plate:

Unreasonable Expectations?

Ryan Clark played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2006 through 2013, helping win a Super Bowl and putting together the best season of his career with the Steelers in 2011, earning a Pro Bowl nod. 

These days you can find him all over the landscape that is NFL Media, with key roles on ESPN's platform including hit shows Get Up, and NFL Live. Well, in a recent appearance for the network, Clark didn't hold back on what he expects from Pickett:

“You had that grace period, that grace period is gone,” Clark said on behalf of Pickett via NFL Live on ESPN. “This team finished winning 6 of its last 7 games, and when you watch him have a comeback against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens, you expect to see more of that coming into the season…



"…Knowing you’re the guy, you have to be ready to lead, you have to be ready on day one to show these guys you can lead them to the promised land. You also have to remember it was an extremely long time between Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh Steelers fans, the organization, and Mike Tomlin isn’t prepared to wait that long. Those expectations are heaped onto Kenny Pickett and that first-round draft stock.” 

But in fairness to Clark, if Pickett didn't know this already, he certainly should have after year one. In fact, the minute he was selected by Pittsburgh, hopefully, he understood what came with the job description. 



This isn't just another franchise, this is a team tied for the most Super Bowls in the history of the league, and that has gone two decades without a losing season. 

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So we know the standard, have set the precedent, and understand the expectations. That leaves Pickett as the one needing to prove himself.



The legacy of the Steelers was built before he arrived and will last long after he's gone. 



Whether he adds to that greatness or is just another blip on the radar in the post-Big Ben era is all up to him. 

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Featured image via: © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports