Kenny Pickett returns to Acrisure Stadium for Pitt spring game, recalling what made Panthers ACC champions in 2021

Kenny Pickett stood alone Saturday in a corner of Acrisure Stadium, familiar turf to the former Pitt and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback.

While Pitt players — wearing the colors he used to wear — warmed up for the Blue-Gold Game that signifies the end of spring drills, Pickett was thinking about the message he planned to impart to them after the game as one of the honorary captains with former Pitt cornerback A.J. Woods.

Pickett shared some of those thoughts with TribLive.

“The core values of football at every level stay true — college and professional,” he said. “Pour into your team. Pour into your teammates, care about one another. You’d be surprised when you go out there and see how hard guys play for each other.

“That was the reason that (2021 Pitt) team went as far as we did (winning the ACC championship), just because of how tight we were, a brotherhood. We all cared about each other. We all hung out a ton outside of football. It was just such a blast to go out on Saturday and play with your best friends.

“I hope that’s something I left here in ’21, and I hope it continues and they have a great year this season.”

Pickett, who spent two seasons with the Steelers after he was their first-round draft choice in 2022, stopped in Pittsburgh on his way to Cleveland, where he will compete for the Browns starting quarterback job with a fellow New Jersey native, 40-year-old Joe Flacco.

Pickett was traded from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, and he doesn’t plan on being a backup.

“That’s the plan, man (to start). I’m not going there to hang out,” he said. “I want to go play. I’m excited, been working hard for it, taking it a day at a time.”

He said competing with Flacco, who played quarterback at Pitt in 2003 and 2004 before his ongoing 18-year NFL career, will take him back to his childhood.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about Joe,” he said. “I’ve been watching him since I was 10 years old. Total respect for Joe, what he’s done and I’m excited to get to work with him, too.”

Pickett said he still keeps up friendships with former teammates on the Steelers and planned to have dinner Saturday night with Christian Kuntz, Alex Highsmith and Pat Freiermuth. He officially reports for duty Sunday in Cleveland.

Pickett said he’s looking forward to “everything” about the 2025 season, including the Browns game at Acrisure Stadium against his former team.

“I’m really excited just to get there and get back to competing, get back to playing,” he said, “meeting new people, meeting my new teammates, building those relationships.

“New stop in the journey.”