Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has not exactly inspired much confidence over his first couple of NFL seasons, but a Steelers legend believes in him going forward.
Terry Bradshaw, who led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s, is firmly backing Pickett as the team’s franchise signal-caller.
“I love Pickett,” Bradshaw said on The Rich Eisen Show. “I know him well. He’s fiercely competitive. He’s a tough-minded kind. Things don’t bother him. I really like him a lot.”
Bradshaw seems to be one of the few that does.
Pickett made 12 starts this past season, throwing for 2,070 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 62 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 81.4.
He suffered an ankle injury during the second half of the year and was slated to return later in the season, but he ended up being benched in favor of Mason Rudolph.
Still, Bradshaw thinks Pickett is the guy.
“Kenny’s got the poise,” Bradshaw said. “I just want my quarterback to be poised. If he’s poised, then his brain’s gonna be calm, he’s going to see the coverages, he’s going to be quick with his decision making. And Pickett has all of that.”
Pickett, who played his collegiate football at the University of Pittsburgh, was selected by the Steelers with the 20th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The 25-year-old played in 13 games and made 12 starts during his rookie campaign, totaling 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns and nine picks while completing 63 percent of his throws and registering a passer rating of 76.7.
Clearly, Pickett has struggled over his first two years in the league, which has some wondering if Pittsburgh will make a change under center this offseason.
But apparently, Bradshaw thinks the Steelers would stick with Kenny Pickett in 2024.
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