Pittsburgh Steelers’ Fans Get What They Want In Kenny Pickett

Perhaps the best marketing strategy is a simple one – give the people what they want.

The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t really have to worry about marketing, though. They have sold out every home game since 1972 and there is a waiting list of fans who want to buy season tickets.

Nevertheless, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gave the fans what they wanted at the start of the second half of Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium.

Tomlin benched starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky with his team trailing 10-6. Rookie Kenny Pickett made his NFL debut and the crowd of 66,578 roared its approval when he jogged onto the field.

“We just thought we needed a spark,” Tomlin said.

Pickett is clearly the people’s choice. The charismatic QB won over the locals during his five seasons at Pitt, which happens to share Acrisure Stadium and a training facility with the Steelers.

His college career culminated last year with Pitt winning its first-ever ACC championship. Pickett finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

General Manager Kevin Colbert made Pickett his final first-round draft pick before retiring in April. Pickett was the only quarterback selected in the first round and fans have been clamoring for the 24-year-old to be the starter ever since.

The Steelers signed Trubisky to a two-year, $14-million contract in March as a free agent. Ostensibly, Trubisky was brought in to serve as the QB1 bridge between Ben Roethlisberger, who retired last season after 18 years with the Steelers, and Pickett.

Whether that bridge was completed Sunday remains to be seen. Pickett’s showing had some good and bad as the Steelers fell to 1-3.

Tomlin was noncommittal following the game when asked if Pickett would start against the Buffalo Bills this upcoming Sunday at Orchard Park.

“We did what we needed to do to put ourselves in position to win this game,” Tomlin said. “We’ll do it again. But I like to just keep it where we are in terms of what transpired here today. We’ll deal with next week, next week.”

Pickett had his moments, including becoming the first quarterback to rush for two touchdowns in his NFL debut. His second score put the Steelers ahead 20-10 with 13:36 remaining.

Pickett also completed 10 of 13 passes for 120 yards. However, his three incompletions all resulted in interceptions and played a part in the Jets rallying from a double-digit deficit.

The second of three picks was by Michael Carter II with 3:34 left and gave the Jets the ball at their 35-yard line, trailing 20-17. Zach Wilson then marched New York 10 plays in 65 yards for the winning touchdown.

Breece Hall’s 2-yard run capped the drive with 16 seconds to go and made it 24-20. Pickett tried one last desperation heave from the Steelers’ 48, but it was picked off by Lamarcus Joyner in the end zone as time expired.

“I thought he did some good things,” Tomlin said of Pickett. “I thought there was some energy there. We scored some touchdowns. But obviously we also turned the ball over.”

Pickett admitted it was a thrill to make his debut and he appreciated the crowd support.

However, he was bothered by the interceptions. He was picked off just seven times in 497 attempts during his final college season.

And losing also didn’t sit well with the 24-year-old.

“A lot of emotions,” Pickett said of stepping on the field for the first time in the regular season, “but the only thing I’m thinking about is winning out there. I was kind of staying in tune with the game and what we needed to do to come out with the win and that didn’t happen.

“So, it’s something I definitely need to learn from quickly and get a fix for whenever my next opportunity may come.”

That opportunity might come in Buffalo. Then again, it might not.

“I haven’t been told anything,” Pickett said.