Steelers' Kenny Pickett Framed As The New Bubby Brister On The Rich Eisen Show With Superfan Joe Manganiello

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been lucky enough to have some excellent quarterbacks for very long periods. Back in the 1970s, Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories, then in the early 2000s, they drafted Ben Roethlisberger, who picked up another two Lombardi Trophies. The part we talk about less is the in-between years, the 1990s and now the 2020s since Roethlisberger's retirement. That is why the majority of the fan base was so happy when the team drafted Kenny Pickett in 2022 with their first-round selection. 

Pickett, who played for the University of Pittsburgh, showed incredible potential during his time in the Steel City. This also made him very familiar to the team which offered some additional comfort, surely they wouldn't have selected him if he wasn't capable. But Pickett has struggled to find his footing in the NFL and it isn't quite clear why. Some just think he is not as talented as touted, while others point to him being hindered by the horrible play-calling of former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. There are some who just think he needs more time to develop, but now there is a comparison being drawn between Pickett and an infamous Steelers quarterback, Bubby Brister. 

Is Kenny Pickett The Modern Version Of Bubby Brister?

Recently, Steelers superfan Joe Manganiello joined sports reporter and TV personality Rich Eisen on his show, The Rich Eisen Show. The two discussed the Steelers' quarterback situation and the stunning fact that T.J. Watt was not named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. 

Eisen asked Manganiello who he'd like to see as the quarterback of the Steelers in 2024. Manganiello said that he really liked what Mason Rudolph did with the team in the last three games of the season. After Pickett suffered an injury in Week 13, backup Mitch Trubisky took over for him, but was unable to muster up any wins in 2023. That led Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin to make a bold decision and start third-string quarterback, and longtime Pittsburgh backup, Rudolph. 

Rudolph not only won the final three games and helped the Steelers sneak into the playoffs, but he was scoring touchdowns (something Pickett had been unable to do consistently). He was able to put at least 30 points on the scoreboard for the first time all season, twice. Manganiello said that it felt like Rudolph and the team "clicked," but he wonders if the team is in the kind of spot they were in during the late '90s and the guy they drafted is a high draft pick. Eisen stops him in the middle of his thought to ask for clarification.

"Wait a minute, are you calling Kenny Pickett your Bubby Brister? Is that what you're saying," asked Eisen.

Brister was selected in the draft later than Pickett, it was the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Since he grew up in Louisiana, he was compared to Bradshaw right off the bat, which probably helped set him up for failure, he could not live up to those expectations. He started as the backup to Bradshaw's successor, Mark Malone for his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. 

Malone was inconsistent and was never able to lead the team successfully. He was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1988, and the fans were relieved. That left Brister to compete and win the starting job the next season. Brister had some career highlights during his four years as a starter and started out as a fan favorite (much like Pickett). Brister was a serviceable quarterback. He was never going to be Bradshaw and after the team drafted Neil O'Donnell, he saw the writing on the wall that his days as a starter were numbered. Manganiello said he hopes Pickett has a more favorable outcome. 

"I hope that it's Kenny," said Manganiello. "I hope that he can rebound this year. I hope that with a new offensive coordinator, things are going to click. I think that was the issue with bringing back the offensive coordinator last year is that we didn't get a really great look at Kenny with a great OC."

Certainly, everyone hopes that Pickett isn't the next Brister. In an ideal world, he develops more than Brister was able to. Eisen agrees that he thinks if anyone can get him where he needs to be, it's the new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, calling him "just what the doctor ordered." He sees Smith as a perfect fit for Pittsburgh and noted that he has all the qualities that the Steelers were seeking. 

The Steelers are definitely going to have a big decision to make regarding their starting quarterback. Tomlin stood by and allowed Rudolph to finish out the season, despite Pickett being healthy. But the team has said that they will allow for a quarterback competition. Most insiders believe they will stand firmly behind Pickett and allow him to play his third season. Regardless, the team will still need to pick up at least one more quarterback this offseason either via free agency or the draft for depth.

What do you think will happen with the Steelers' quarterback situation in 2024? Do you agree that Pickett is comparable to Brister? Click to comment below.

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