Morale was initially low for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their AFC North matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, following an interception thrown by quarterback Russell Wilson just one minute into the game. The errant pass, intended for receiver George Pickens, left Pickens visibly shaken as he made his way to the sidelines.
A video capturing head coach Mike Tomlin’s motivational words to Pickens quickly went viral. Tomlin’s encouragement seemed to pay off, as Pickens responded by scoring a 17-yard touchdown on the Steelers’ next drive.
On Tuesday, audio from this exchange was released, revealing Tomlin’s supportive message to his star receiver. “Hey bro, it can’t define us today. I need you to stay with me,” Tomlin said while holding Pickens’s head. “This s— ain’t gonna decide the outcome of the game. … Look at me. You aight? All right, let’s go.”
Despite the Steelers ultimately winning the game 44–38, Pickens’ performance drew significant attention. He committed several costly penalties, including a taunting infraction aimed at the Bengals’ sideline and another for mimicking a gun gesture during a celebration. In his post-game press conference, Tomlin emphasized the need for Pickens to “grow up.”
The game was also notable for Tomlin being mic’d up for the latest season of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” which premiered on Tuesday night. The Steelers coach quickly became a fan favorite during the show’s season opener.
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