George Pickens was productive for the Pittsburgh Steelers , recording 174 catches for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns through the first three years of his NFL career. Talent is not the issue with Pickens. His emotional outbursts and unpredictable behavior were a major thorn in the Steelers' side, however. That's why the Steelers traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday morning. They felt it was best for both sides to part ways.
In 2023, Pickens was fined over $200,000 between the NFL and the Steelers for on- and off-the-field incidents, including reported serial tardiness to team practices and meetings.
In 2024, he received over $80,000 in fines from the NFL for his on-field behavior, including unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, two fights after the end of a loss, and a profane message on his eye black. He also got into a sideline spat with fans.
Perhaps the most egregious of offenses was that Pickens arrived late to the team's Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs , missing pregame warmups despite the fact that he was returning to action from a hamstring injury.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network revealed on the Rich Eisen Show that Pickens was late for multiple games last season, not just the Chiefs game.
"This was not a snap decision. This was not he overreacted to them paying and trading for DK Metcalf . It was everything over the past several years," Pelissero told Eisen. "Again, unbelievably talented football player, but there were a variety of different issues. There was tardiness to meetings, there were a couple of games where he showed up late to the locker room. You know, you always want guys there before you turn in your inactives 90 minutes before the game. There were multiple occasions George Pickens wasn't in the locker room yet."
The issues with Pickens must have been well-known across the league, as teams reportedly "laughed" at the idea of adding him to their roster during the 2025 NFL Draft, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic .
"Word leaked during the draft that Pickens was available if anyone wanted him. Some teams polled by The Athletic at the time laughed at the idea of inviting Pickens into their locker room for any price, let alone a second-day draft pick. There wasn't a lot of interest in talking with the Steelers about a trade," Howe wrote .
Pickens is happy to be a member of the Cowboys, but made it clear that he did not demand a departure from Pittsburgh. Steelers general manager Omar Khan also confirmed that on Friday. When asked specifically about what led to his departure from Pittsburgh, Pickens cited the business of football .
"This game is just as much of a business as it is football," Pickens said during his introductory press conference with the Cowboys. "It was kind of out of my control. I'm just glad to be here in Dallas and continue the winning culture that they have."
Pickens also said that he's not focused on getting a contract extension at this time. He leaves Pittsburgh with just one season remaining on his rookie contract.
"I'm kinda where my feet are right now, to be honest," Pickens said. "I'm not really thinking about contract talks. I'm just glad to be with the Cowboys right now, trying to build a winning culture."
Pickens is focused on the present. Whatever happened in Pittsburgh is behind him.
"I can't change anyone's opinion. Me, personally, I just continue to grow," Pickens said. "Everyone in the world has to grow as you get older and older. I'm just trying to build a winning culture, which they already have at the Cowboys. I'm just glad to be joining."
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Eye-Opening Detail Revealed on George Pickens' Time with Steelers
