Mike Tomlin Reportedly Led Push to Trade George Pickens Before Cowboys-Steelers Deal

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was reportedly proactive in making sure wide receiver George Pickens was moved.

After the Dallas Cowboys announced they acquired Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round draft pick from Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2026 third-rounder and 2027 fifth-rounder on Wednesday, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly appeared on Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan (h/t Riley Garrett of Steelers Nation) and reported Tomlin led the push to make the move from the AFC North team's side.

"What's surprising to me is, from everything that I've heard, Mike Tomlin was the one that was in front of this all," Kaboly said. "It wasn't [owner] Art [Rooney II]. It wasn't [general manager] Omar [Khan]. It was Mike, and then the organizational decision of—it's time to move on."

That wasn't the only report suggesting Tomlin was involved, as Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said the head coach and Khan "were behind the deal" in a question-and-answer piece.

There was no questioning Pickens' talent level during his time on the Steelers, but he didn't always live up to it for various reasons.

It reached a point that Tomlin urged the receiver to "grow up" after a December game against the rival Cincinnati Bengals that saw the Georgia product pick up two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties just one game after scuffling with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II.

"He's just got to grow up, man," Tomlin told reporters. "This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He's got a target on his back because he's George, he understands that. But he's got to grow up. He's got to grow up in a hurry."

Pickens was also fined last season for writing an explicit message on his eye black during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. He was also fined again for that same game because he pulled defensive back Jourdan Lewis down by the face mask right as the game ended.

What's more, he was ejected during a 2022 contest against the Bengals for a late hit on wide receiver Tyler Boyd.

It will be up to Dallas to help him curb some of those actions and instead focus on putting up big numbers in the aerial attack.

Playing alongside CeeDee Lamb should help, as he will consistently see single coverage because of all the double-teams and additional attention the No. 1 option draws. Pickens, who finished last season with 900 receiving yards and three touchdowns, can take advantage of that situation and perhaps improve on his numbers from his time in Pittsburgh.

As for Tomlin, it seems like the head coach was just ready to move on with a wide receiver room that now includes DK Metcalf.