WATCH: Kenny Pickett Makes First Return to Acrisure Stadium for Pitt Spring Game

PITTSBURGH — Former Pitt quarterback and Pittsburgh Steeler Kenny Pickett made his return to Acrisure Stadium Saturday for the first time since leaving Pittsburgh in a trade.

Pickett is serving as an honorary captain for the Blue-Gold Pitt Spring Game.

Super Bowl Champion Kenny Pickett is in the building. pic.twitter.com/BJGSWJCfKq

— Nathan Breisinger (@NateBreisinger) April 12, 2025

Former @Pitt_FB QB and @steelers and Super Bowl Champion @kennypickett10 is a captain today here at the Blue-Gold Game. @PghSportsNow pic.twitter.com/MR0haKQC07

— Ed Thompson (@ThompsonFoto12) April 12, 2025

After being selected by the Steelers with the 20th pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the franchise moved on from him after two seasons. He was traded to Philadelphia where he would win a Super Bowl Championship in February with his childhood team. Pickett entered Super Bowl LIX in the late stages, attempted one pass and knelt out the final play.

It was a tumultuous two-year tenure for Pickett in Pittsburgh as he battled injuries and struggled to replace the production of legendary franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger across 24 starts. In his rookie season, Pickett complete 63 percent of his passes for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. The following year, he connected on 62 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.

In his lone season with Philadelphia, Pickett started one game against the Dallas Cowboys in which he complete 10-of-15 passes (66.7%) for 143 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game with an injury. In five appearances during the regular season, he completed 25-of-42 passes (59.5%) for 291 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

A trade sent Pickett to the Cleveland Browns and back to the AFC North. He will have an opportunity to compete for a starting job in during the upcoming season. Pickett is in the final year of his rookie contract and will have a fifth year option in 2026.

Pickett spent five seasons at Pitt as he grew into one of the top quarterbacks in the country by his fifth year.

In 2021, Pickett helped the Panthers to an 11-2 record and capture their first ACC Championship. He completed 67% of his passes for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns — both setting single-season program records — to only seven interceptions. He also added five rushing touchdowns, which brought his total to 47 on the year, another program single-season record.

Thanks to his outstanding 2021 campaign, Pickett was a Heisman finalist, All-American and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner and ACC Player of the Year.