The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed a one-year contract with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson. Fans are celebrating the suspected end of the Kenny Pickett era.
Wilson, 35, spent ten successful years with the Seattle Seahawks before suffering back-to-back disastrous campaigns in Denver.
He arrives in Pittsburgh with a chance at rebuilding his image, and in doing so, Wilson has effectively put an end to Pickett’s time as the starter.
Now, the fanbase is praising the Wilson signing. Or better put, it is celebrating that Pickett presumably won’t be taking snaps next season.
Steelers fans and analysts roast Kenny Pickett
Stephen A. Smith, a noted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, threw shots at Pickett during the March 11 episode of First Take.
.@stephenasmith didn't appreciate the lack of energy from @ShannonSharpe on Russell Wilson as the Steelers' new QB 😆"This is Kenny Pickett we're talking about. Anything is an upgrade with the quarterback situation the Steelers had last year." pic.twitter.com/2dqTluVUU2
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 11, 2024
Mark Madden of Triblive isn’t entertaining the notion that the Steelers failed Kenny Pickett.
I can't for the life of me figure how the Steelers "failed" Kenny Pickett. It's not Little League. You don't get your hand held. You succeed, or don't.
— Mark Madden (@MarkMaddenX) March 11, 2024
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic says that signing Wilson confirms Pickett’s time as the starter is “all but over.”
The Athletic's Mark Kaboly believes the Russell Wilson addition signals that Kenny Pickett's career with the #Steelers is "all but over."Read more: @Steelersdepot https://t.co/abfBpDJGOL
— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) March 11, 2024
Using a famous Seinfeld clip, the BetMGM X account explains why the Steelers chose to sign Wilson.
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Kenny Pickett wondering why the Steelers are signing Russell Wilson pic.twitter.com/hOgTIEKO2E
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) March 11, 2024
One Steelers site gave the franchise a pat on the back for its willingness to move on from the Pickett experiment.
I'm proud of the Steelers for not being stubborn and admitting that they messed up on the Kenny Pickett pick. #Steelers #NFL
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) March 11, 2024
Although the Steelers haven’t outright said that Wilson will start over Pickett, NFL insider Adam Schefter believes it’s a foregone conclusion.
If Pittsburgh relegates Pickett to the backup role in 2024, as is expected, it appears his hourglass is running low with the organization.
Adam Schefter on Russell Wilson heading to Pittsburgh: “I don't think Russell Wilson goes to Pittsburgh with the idea that he's gonna back up Kenny Pickett.” #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/JvMUR3PSeP
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) March 11, 2024
Fans of the franchise bought into the Pickett hype during his rookie campaign. However, the 2022 first-round pick regressed mightily last season.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive reaction, this is a move that inspires optimism for Steelers fans next season.
After a 10-7 campaign in 2023, the offense gets a proven, albeit aging, commodity at quarterback. Ideally, it will be enough to get them further in the postseason.