Kenny Pickett Got a Super Bowl Ring and a Former GM Still Swears Drafting Him Was a Win
Alright, 12s, sometimes the football world just throws you a curveball that makes no sense! We’re talking about former Steelers GM Kevin Colbert out here trying to explain why picking Kenny Pickett was a good call. Seriously? After everything that went down, including Pickett scooping up a Super Bowl ring with a different team? You can’t make this stuff up, and it’s the kind of drama that keeps us glued to the NFL, even when it’s not our Hawks in the spotlight.
The Pick, The Punt, and the Super Bowl Ring Surprise
Remember the chatter when the Steelers picked Kenny Pickett 20th overall right after Ben Roethlisberger retired? It felt like deja vu, considering they famously passed on Dan Marino, 21st overall, back before Terry Bradshaw’s final season. This time, they "pounced" on the Pitt product. But here’s the kicker: just two seasons later, Pittsburgh punted on Pickett, shipping him off. And what happened next is pure NFL chaos: Pickett landed with the Eagles in 2024, and get this, he walked away with a Super Bowl ring! Marino never got that, man. After Philly, he bounced to Las Vegas in 2025, after a quick stop with the Browns then the Raiders. Now, he's on the Carolina Panthers' depth chart, backing up Bryce Young. A wild ride for a guy who was supposed to be the franchise savior!
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Colbert's Defense: 14-10 Was "Trending Right"?
So, with all that history, all those moves, and that unexpected Super Bowl bling, what’s a former GM gotta say? Kevin Colbert, who retired before Pickett was traded, went on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh this week to defend the original draft decision. He straight up said, and I gotta quote it because it’s wild, via Jack Markowski of SI.com, "We projected Kenny to be a start-and-win NFL quarterback, and quite honestly, he lived up to that in his first two seasons with us." He doubled down, claiming, "For us, he was 14-10 and trending in the right direction." I mean, 14-10 is a winning record, sure. But "trending in the right direction" when you literally trade the guy after two years, and then he goes and wins a Super Bowl somewhere else? It makes you scratch your head about what "trending right" truly means for some teams. It’s a bold take, that's for sure.
It's a crazy league, man, full of twists you don't expect. Makes you appreciate when a plan actually comes together for our Emerald City teams! As for us, the Seahawks are grinding through the early season, making those early statements count. We’re keeping our eyes peeled on Sam Darnold slinging it to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed, watching every move Mike Macdonald makes. You know we'll be watching every single play when they hit the field next, fired up for our Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.