Many Steelers Players Were Reportedly “Fed up” with George Pickens’ Antics Amid the Cowboys

The Pittsburgh Steelers cut ties with former wideout George Pickens and traded him to the Dallas Cowboys last week.

Many Steelers Players Were Reportedly “Fed up” with George Pickens’ Antics Amid the Cowboys

George Pickens (Image via AP)

The Cincinnati Bengals attempted a late comeback, while fellow divisional group Pittsburgh Steelers, choked badly to finish the season. The Steelers were projected to make a deep playoff run, with the projections dipping low to first-round exit even before the playoffs started.

The Steelers had several roster flaws and things starting getting worse around the end of the season. George Pickens, wideout was amongst the few who created some kind of chaos. Pickens had a very verbally and emotionally lash-out against the Cincinnati Bengals. Flash forward, he had been missed practices and arrived fashionably late as well. The combined on-the-field and off-the-field choking had raised some eyebrows.

The Steelers dig after joining the Cowboys, obviously, told there were more elements at play. It was not just former head coach Mike Tomlin who had a bone to pick with Pickens. Tomlins acknowledged that Pickens had room for development. He also noted it’s a fresh start for both the teams with the Pickens’ deal and said there’s no reason to add more color to the drama.

Now, it has been revealed that there were a couple other Steelers players who were equally frustrated with Pickens. Mark Kaboly tweeted that the players were turned off by him Pickens.

Furthermore, Kaboly also admitted that the locker room turned toxic at times, making it counterproductive to keep him around despite his unique talent.

George Pickens had slim pickings if not for the Dallas Cowboys

When the Steelers started shopping George Pickens, they quickly learned the market wasn’t strong for him. Despite his talent and highlight-reel ability, most teams showed little to no serious interest. Only a few organizations even made exploratory calls about the wide receiver. None followed up with firm offers or meaningful proposals in the days before the deal.

George Pickens
George Pickens (Image via Imago)

For several weeks, Pittsburgh quietly made it known Pickens was available ahead of the NFL Draft. Trade talks began with limited urgency, and no team stepped forward with a competitive early bid.

The Steelers continued waiting but received no indication of a bidding war or increased demand. Most teams seemed more focused on the draft or veteran free agents with cleaner profiles. The fact that the Cowboys didn’t get any wide receiver in the first round, hence played an important role in their surprising move.

His on-field production hadn’t been the problem—attitude and conduct had overshadowed his talent over time. Off-the-field concerns and in-game antics seemed to push many front offices away from the discussion.

As one executive told ESPN, “You don’t invest big in a receiver who might become a weekly distraction.” That general view held strong, even from teams in clear need of playmakers. After all, the NFL just showed how much they will humble a guy who’s talent is good but his off-the-field and personality didn’t meet that levels.

In the end, Dallas Cowboys was the only team to follow through with a deal, who send a late-round compensation in return.

However, the fact that the Steelers wide out room has shrunk in size is a matter of concern. Despite signing DK Metcalf, the lack of an offensive support could diminish his numbers as well. The Steelers could potentially end up having their first losing season in years and find themselves out of playoffs in 2025.

Also Read: Steelers GM Omar Khan Reveals How George Pickens Trade to Cowboys Happened