Kenny Pickett’s first NFL touchdown almost featured a massive mistake

After scoring his first career touchdown, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett actually tried to give the football away.

The Pittsburgh Steelers gave a gift to their fanbase in Week 4 of the 2022 season — benching quarterback Mitch Trubisky in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett. After receiving a standing ovation, his first drive ended with an interception on a good pass that was tipped into the air by wide receiver Chase Claypool. But on his second drive, Pickett scored his first career touchdown on a quarterback sneak at the goal line.

Usually, a rookie will save the football which resulted in their first career touchdown. According to Tim Benz of 102.5 WDVE, fullback Derek Watt handed the ball to Pickett for him to save it, but the rookie got excited and threw it away!

Below is the touchdown and the celebration by Pickett. Yet, it is not shown if Pickett threw away the ball.

Kenny Pickett threw his touchdown ball away

Rookie mistake? Sorry, it was right there. Had to use it.

Luckily for Pickett, this was not the only touchdown that he scored. In the third quarter, Pickett ran in the end zone for yet another touchdown, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 20-10.

The Steelers trailed the Jets 10-6 entering halftime, and head coach Mike Tomlin decided that he had seen enough from starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky. The former 2017 second-overall pick completed 7-of-13 pass attempts for 84 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception.

Through the first three weeks of the NFL season, the Steelers offense was stagnant, causing fans to call on the team to make a quarterback switch. It did not happen after a Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots or their Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

But in Week 4 of the 2022 season, Steelers fans will remember it as the day that Pickett made his NFL debut, and scored two touchdowns.