Steelers' legendary QB wasn't always a Kenny Pickett fan
When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kenny Pickett in the first round of last year's draft, they did so with the intent of going from one franchise QB to another. And while many inside the organization and across the greater PGH area were enthralled, one legendary signal-caller wasn't. Let's dive into why Ben Roethlisberger didn't always […]
When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kenny Pickett in the first round of last year's draft, they did so with the intent of going from one franchise QB to another.
And while many inside the organization and across the greater PGH area were enthralled, one legendary signal-caller wasn't.
Let's dive into why Ben Roethlisberger didn't always approve of the Kenny Pickett draft pick, and how he's finally come around.
Since retiring after the 2021 season, "Big Ben" has been taking it slow in retirement but he's still a part of the football world, hosting his own podcast called: Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.
On his most recent episode, the two-time Super Bowl Champion and future Hall of Fame Steelers QB had current starting quarterback Kenny Pickett on. The two discussed various topics, sharing something in common that only a few men to walk the planet have; quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But, as Ben so elegantly admitted, he was trepidatious about Pickett when the Steelers took him to be his heir apparent. Here's the enticing revelation that Roethlisberger shared:
"Early on, I didn't want him to succeed 'cause I didn't want it to happen," said Ben on the Steelers' succession plans with Pickett. "I think that's probably the selfishness in me, and I feel bad for it. But as it went on, as the season went on, he got like his third game playing, I was rooting for him. I was excited for ya. I wanted you to succeed. I wanted you to win games. I wanted you to get to the playoffs. And so I feel bad that I felt that early on. But I'm glad that I transitioned into the love and rooting for ya."
Now, as beloved as Ben is in Pittsburgh, (rightfully so) this shouldn't come off as a surprise to dialed-in Steelers fans, or NFL fans in general really. There were rumblings about Ben's lack of "mentorship" if you will, when they selected Mason Rudolph towards the end of Ben's prime.
And then, after playing his whole career in Pittsburgh, he walks off into the sunset, no longer able to play the game he loves, and is replaced by the shiny new toy at quarterback in Kenny Pickett.
Something we forget on the outside is that the players in the NFL are ultimate competitors. Especially ones that play as long as Roethlisberger which makes the transition out of football even more difficult. But it seems Ben has come around to Pickett, and he believes the future of the black and gold is in good hands.
"I was pleasantly surprised, I'm glad that I was wrong in the sense of where I had you," Roethlisberger said. "I thought you'd be a quarterback that was good, that was going to come in…(and be ok) but I think you are the future of this team. I really do. And I think they got, you know, the fans should be lucky, they are lucky they got you."
