In a latest episode of his podcast, Ben Roethlisberger revealed to Kenny Pickett that he didn’t wish to see him succeed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 2004 NFL Draft class noticed three groups have long-term stability on the quarterback place based mostly on their alternatives. The Pittsburgh Steelers had been one in every of them after they drafted Ben Roethlisberger, who led the staff for 18 years, earlier than asserting his retirement after the 2021 season.

With that, the Steelers wanted a brand new quarterback, they usually opted to make use of their first-round decide within the 2022 NFL Draft on Pittsburgh Panthers sign caller Kenny Pickett.

This previous season, Pickett confirmed promise and led the staff to 2 clutch wins late to assist the Steelers earn a profitable document.

Pickett made an look on Roethlisberger’s “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast” to debate a wide range of matters. When requested about Pickett changing him, Roethlisberger admitted that he didn’t essentially wish to see him succeed. Roethlisberger informed Pickett that that was “most likely the selfishness of me and I really feel unhealthy for it.”

You possibly can view Roethlisberger’s feedback within the video beneath on the 1:29:19 mark of the YouTube video beneath:

Ben Roethlisberger admits he didn’t essentially wish to see Kenny Pickett succeed

“I’ll be utterly trustworthy and I’ll be tremendous clear right here, I’m going to get blasted, I most likely shouldn’t say this, however who cares at this level. I wouldn’t say that I wished Kenny to essentially fail, however like when somebody comes to interchange you and I nonetheless really feel like I had it, I hope he doesn’t come and like ball out. As a result of then it’s like ‘Ben who,’ proper? However actually, I believe as you began taking part in, I discovered myself rooting an increasing number of for you. We sat down right here and watched video games and we had been high-fiving and going nuts if you had been main the staff and doing issues, you already know. And operating and attempting to struggle individuals and doing all of that stuff…

“I felt unhealthy and I got here on this present and I apologized to you for not figuring out how good he was going to be. Like, I simply didn’t know. I had no concept. I didn’t know that you simply had been the runner that you simply had been. I simply didn’t know what was going to occur, I wasn’t conscious. I used to be pleasantly shocked, I’m glad that I used to be improper within the sense of the place I had you. I believed you’d be a quarterback that was good…I believe you’re the way forward for this staff, I actually do.”

Pickett was the headliner of what was a weak quarterback draft class. He shined in his 4 years at Pittsburgh and ended all of it by beating Dan Marino’s single-season and all-time passing touchdowns information in this system’s historical past. It was solely becoming that the quarterback whose staff shared a facility and stadium with the Steelers, donned the black and yellow uniform.

To begin the yr, Pickett was the agency backup behind starter Mitchell Trubisky, however entered in reduction in Week 4. From there, he turned the beginning quarterback.

Whereas Pittsburgh’s offense as an entire didn’t mild up the NFL world, Pickett did present potential to be the man below middle for a substantial period of time after main the staff to clutch, game-winning drives in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens in Weeks 16 and 17.

In his rookie season, Pickett threw for two,404 yards, seven touchdowns, and 9 interceptions whereas finishing 63.0-percent of his passes. Moreover, Pickett ran for 237 yards and three touchdowns on 55 carries.

Not solely do the Steelers as a staff really feel like Pickett will be their long-term reply at quarterback, however so does Roethlisberger after watching him in his first season with the staff.