Steelers Owner Art Rooney on George Pickens Room to Grow
Pittsburgh Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II echoed head coach Mike Tomlin’s sentiment about wide receiver George Pickens, acknowledging the talented but sometimes unpredictable player still has “room to grow.”
“George is a very talented player who has room to grow,” Rooney said during his end-of-season news conference on Monday. “And we’d like to see him grow, and hopefully, he realizes the potential that he has, but there’s definitely room for growth there.”
This comment came shortly after Tomlin praised Pickens for his progress during the 2024 season but emphasized that there was “a heck of a lot more ground to be covered.” Pickens, who missed three games due to a hamstring injury, finished the regular season with 900 yards on 59 receptions and three touchdowns. He also had two 100-yard games, though his average of 15.3 yards per catch marked a career-low.
Despite his flashes of brilliance with highlight-reel catches, Pickens’ third season in Pittsburgh was also marked by some off-field distractions. In December, he was flagged for two unsportsmanlike penalties during a victory against the Bengals, and in the Christmas Day game against the Chiefs, he arrived at the stadium less than 90 minutes before kickoff.
“Every team seems to have one or two guys in that room that are — you have to manage them correctly,” Rooney said. “I still think George has enough talent that we’ve got to try to work and see if we can get him to reach his, fulfill the talent that he really has. Who knows if we can get there, we’ll see.”
Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, but Rooney indicated that contract extension talks have not yet begun. The Steelers typically avoid contract negotiations during the season, and Rooney’s comments suggest they may take a wait-and-see approach with the young wideout.
With a mix of raw talent and room for improvement, the Steelers are hopeful that Pickens can take the next step in his development and become a key player for the franchise moving forward.
