1-on-1: Kenny Pickett - May 2, 2022

1-on-1: Kenny Pickett - May 2, 2022

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Kenny. I know it's been said, but you know, quick
trip to your new home. What is it like just
coming back to Pittsburgh and knowing it's slowly walking across
the building. Yeah, it's it's an unbelievable feeling. Um, I
really can't put in a word. It still hasn't been
twenty four hours yet, so I really just been enjoying
it with my family. Hopped on a plane. I'm here now. Um,
you know, meeting a lot of new people. So it's
been great. Uh, Steeler's helmet, you know, lots of names

(00:24):
up there. You're gonna be added when you look at that.
What's you know what jumps out? Probably just guys that
I played with and I played with Quadie Henderson. I
looked up to get a chance to play with James,
but he was, you know, a rookie in my first
year here. So, um, a lot of great players I've
come through here and you know now playing next door
and I get to join them. Now. When you heard
that you were a Steeler coach, Tomlins, the one that

(00:45):
called you, it looked like you were bending down, you
putting here take me through you know that night? Yeah,
as soon as I saw the phone number I knew
was you know what what the call was. That that
was more of me breaking down and just emotionally just
coming overcoming emotions. Just all my hard work pay off
and it was special have my family there with me.
All right. You know this bench, well I do, uh

(01:05):
coach someone's out here a few times with you he did.
I mean I would come off, I take my cleats off,
and I would watch practice. So that's where kind of
we would we would bump bump into each other and
just have you know a couple of minutes conversation. It
built over those five years. You're forever going to be
connected with Dan Marino and what you were able to
accomplish a pit. Um, I knew you have a relationship
with him. So how has that helped you just you know,

(01:26):
get prepared to enter the pros and now that you're
staying in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. Yeah, just having you know,
the time talk to him before the process started. Um,
you know, he gave me some great advice and you know,
he's someone I know I can reach out to, you know,
if I need any advice moving forward. So it's definitely
a great connection to have. I wanted to ask you
about your parents and just your upbringing. How much did
sports play roll in it? Huge? She I mean I

(01:48):
was a three sport you know kid growing up, you know,
just always playing, and you know my mom was dropping
me around. My dad was my coach. So you know,
we're just tight family. So that's why, you know, everyone's
pretty emotional. I got that call last night and it
was a really special moment. All right, let's go to
Steelers side. You can lead the way. I think you
know where it is. Coach Salmon has mentioned a few
things about quarterbacks obviously leading up to this draft in

(02:09):
the process, mobility and ultimate competitor. How do you fit
those two things? I think those are your two strengths
of my game. Um, you know, I feel like I
can make a lot of plays outside of the pocket
and use my legs and gets something the coach Canada
likes to do. And uh, you know, I just I
just always want to be the most competitive guy in
the building. So I'm excited to join this team and
I know that's the mindset every guy in here. I

(02:31):
know you have a history with Coach Canada, although you
have not played with him yet. Um, is that exciting?
Is it weird? You know, how do you feel about,
you know, getting a chance to learn from him finally
after how many years? Now? Five years now? You have
recruited me to pit and I think, get a chance
to play for him. And that was the first thing
he said when he called me. How you know how
great it will be. I can finally play for him,
he can coach me. Um, it's been a long time coming,

(02:52):
but you know, glad it finally happened. What do you
like about his offense? And you know what the Steelers
are trying to do? You have nagy? You know they
got some reinforcement on the offensive line in free agency, right, Yeah.
I mean I think it's a lot of versatility and
they do a lot of different things with shifts and
motions and just trying to confuse the defense. But I
know how he installs it. It's pretty simple on our end.
So I'm really excited to, you know, hop back into

(03:12):
his offense. And I know it changes every year and
he's evolving and putting new stuff in, So I'm really
excited to learn. All right, the trophies, I know you've
seen these before. Um, curious what you knew about the
Steelers before you came to pick because you were not
a Steelers fan growing up. I was not, but I
had some I have some best friends at are so
they keep me updated on everything. And uh, if you

(03:32):
saw Terrible Towels last night, they were they were the
ones who brought him in. So I'm excited to be here.
Do you feel like they were manifesting that because I
know everybody gets the hats, but the Terrible Towels meant
that there were some die hard Pittsburgh Yes, yes, they
were definitely manifesting it. And uh, I think they were
crying more than I was when I got that call.
So it was great. What is the one thing that

(03:52):
you want to accomplish as a Pittsburgh Steeler right here?
Out of this, out of his trophy kids, and it's
just the ultimate goal. It's the ultimate championships. I can't
wait to, uh, you know, start chasing that. All right,
Thanks Kenny, welcome back, Thank you appreciate