George Pickens is now wearing a Dallas Cowboys uniform, but he isn’t letting his departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers go unexplained.
In a series of posts on social media, the wide receiver revealed that his move to Dallas wasn’t just a front-office decision-it was something he pushed for himself.
Pickens, who was traded in May, responded directly to criticism from a Steelers fan account that brought up his history of controversial headlines.
The account, run by Brandon James Wallace of SteelerNation, suggested that off-field issues played a role in the trade. But Pickens didn’t hold back in calling the narrative false.
“Lmaooo. I play for Cowboys bro stop reminiscing,” Pickens wrote.
“And trying to justify the trade, y’all just lost another good player to fake reports like this one.”
In that same thread, the 23-year-old receiver admitted he was the driving force behind his departure from Pittsburgh. The tweet, which has since been deleted, was captured by Steelers Now’s Brendan Howe.
“I forced buddy. They were gladly keeping me… have a nice day and a blessed one my guy.”
Contradictions and a Fresh Start in Dallas
Pickens‘s social media remarks contrast sharply with his earlier public comments. During his Cowboys introductory press conference, he downplayed any personal role in the trade, saying it was “out of [his] control.”
Reports at the time had suggested Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin orchestrated the move. But according to Pickens now, he wanted out.
His reasons appear to stem from concerns over the Steelers‘ future-particularly at the quarterback position, which has remained unstable since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement.
With no clear long-term solution under center in Pittsburgh, Pickens may have viewed Dallas-with Dak Prescott firmly in place-as a more promising destination.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, seem unfazed by the off-field noise. Known for giving strong personalities a platform to perform, Dallas appears confident in Pickens’s talent and potential impact.
The receiver brings explosive playmaking ability and could thrive in an offense looking to expand its vertical threat options.
For Pickens, the focus now shifts away from the drama and toward his future in Dallas. While his online remarks stirred debate, they also reinforced one message: he’s not looking back.
Regardless of how the trade unfolded behind closed doors, both teams have moved on. The Steelers are retooling, while the Cowboys are betting on Pickens to add firepower to their roster.
Whether he lives up to that promise will be one of the storylines to watch in the 2025 NFL season.
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