Pittsburgh Steelers Wide receiver George Pickens raised eyebrows on Wednesday when he congratulated Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce after a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes and Kelce spoke with Netflix’s Stacey Dales about the team’s 29-10 win.
Mahomes threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, and Kelce had eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, reaching the 1,000 career reception mark during the game.
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Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) hits Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) in the second half on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
As the two star players chatted, Pickens interrupted the interview to express his respect.
The move sparked debate among fans. Some praised Pickens for his good sportsmanship, while others cynically suggested it was the wide receiver trying to influence a future trade.
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Pickens had three catches on seven targets for 50 yards.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) hug after a game on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
The wide receiver caused a stir this season. He got into an argument with a Cleveland Browns player in a duel last month on one of the final plays. He was subsequently cited for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked Pickens’ antics earlier this month.
“I’m not going to give you any details about what’s going on behind the scenes in terms of his growth and development,” Tomlin said. “That’s my style and I’m going to be really consistent with it. Being open with you doesn’t necessarily help or speed up the growth process, and that’s my intention, not necessarily feeding the beast.”
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) makes a catch against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the second half on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Wednesday’s game was the first for Pickens after missing three games due to injury.
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