Former Steelers WR George Pickens Throws Big-Time Shade At Mike Tomlin's Culture In Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a clear statement when the decision was made to trade wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. The move wasn't necessary expected to occur after the 2025 NFL Draft, but it is now evident that important decision-makers within the Steelers' front office and coaching staff wanted to move on from the polarizing wideout. It will be interesting to see how his career continues to trend in Dallas, but there is a possibility that he has a monster season because he now has a formidable quarterback in Dak Prescott and partner-in-crime with CeeDee Lamb.
There were a number of instances during his time in the Steel City when Pickens was criticized heavily. He had moments when he treated the media poorly, argued with fans from the sidelines, and didn't give it his very best while on the field. A combination of all of this is likely what led to him being traded, but Pickens seems to be extremely happy with this new chapter that has begun for himself.
The wide receiver recently spoke to members of the media while at one of the Cowboys' facilities and still found a way to take a subtle little shot at Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. When asked if he had been out to dinner with teammates and coaches yet, Pickens responded that he had been. A reporter asked what stood out and he did not hold back.
"Just everything. The culture, too," Pickens said. "That's the thing. It's super refreshing with a different culture."
Head coaches are often tasked with developing a specific culture within the building that they are operating in. Tomlin has been in the Steel City for nearly two decades, but Pickens already seems to prefer the culture that first-year Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer is creating in Dallas. It may have been very brief, but Pickens saying that the culture is refreshing with his new team suggests that he wasn't pleased with the one he was a part of previously.
Another member of the media asked how Pickens feels about getting a chance to prove himself in a different-colored uniform. He responded with an extremely mature answer.
"I'd probably just say staying humble," Pickens said. "That's kind of what I always did, like even when the story was [whatever] the story was. I always just kept working [and] staying humble."
No one will know for sure which Pickens shows up for the Cowboys until the regular season begins. Steelers fans learned quickly that he has the potential to get flustered extremely quickly depending on what's happening on the field.
There is no doubt that Pickens has the potential to be one of the most talented and successful wideouts throughout the entire NFL. He has not yet received a contract extension in Dallas, which means that he could be playing for a huge contract come the 2026 offseason. If he is not on his best behavior, there is no guarantee that he will cash in with a new deal from the Cowboys or free agency market.
Regardless of how Pickens performs in Dallas, however, it's evident that he was not wanted in the Steel City anymore. It was reported that several players inside the Steelers' locker room also were fed up with the pass-catcher, so it simply would not have been worth it to go another year with multiple personalties clashing. That kind of tension typically ends up affecting on-field play.
Steelers Are Now Tasked With Upgrading Wide Receiving Corps Again
Pittsburgh now has Metcalf, who is expected to be an extremely reliable option in the passing game. Unfortunately, no one else on the depth chart is being looked at as a legitimate threat. There is always the possibility of someone exceeding expectations and performing extremely well, but the overall hope is that the organization does not end up regretting trading one of the offense's most talented players.
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