Kenny Pickett from Pittsburgh Steelers has undergone significant weight gain this offseason in order to gain some muscle and improve his performance.
Kenneth Shane Pickett, an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL), attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and was a Heisman Trophy nominee as a senior. The Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Pickett was designated the starter by head coach Mike Tomlin on October 4, 2022. He completed 34 of 51 passes for 327 yards and an interception in his first career start against the Buffalo Bills in a 38-3 loss. He delivered his first touchdown throw to Najee Harris in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he left the game in the third quarter with a concussion. Pickett’s first career win came after the Steelers defeated the Buccaneers 20-18.
Recently, Kenny Pickett has gained a lot of attention due to his massive weight gain appearance. The Steelers star seems completely different with his latest body transformation. As a result, many fans and followers have been curious to know more about his transformation and wonder about the reason behind his weight gain journey. Well, here is everything you need to know.
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Kenny Pickett’s Weight Gain: The Pittsburgh Steelers Star Has Gained Significant Weight This Offseason to Gain Size and Improve His Performance!
When players reported to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on April 24, 2023, quarterback Kenny Pickett (@kennypickett8) appeared noticeably heavier. Pickett may not be Big Ken, but his weight gain is a positive indication for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).
Kenny Pickett before and after weight gain.
Image Source: WEIGHT&Skin
It’s difficult to maintain weight after essentially two years of nonstop working out, training, and prepping. With some downtime and the freedom to focus entirely on the NFL, Kenny Pickett recently said one of his offseason goals was to undergo weight gain for more muscles. Pickett claimed on The Pat McAfee Show that he believed he was too skinny over the last year. He stated,
I think the combine training, man, I got a little too lean, I’d say. I was a little under 220. I want to get a little bit bigger for this season. So you’re training for the 40, the 5-10, you’re just not training to be a footballer. You’re kind of doing the drills and i wanted to perform well in those. So then I was playing catch up after that trying to gain some weight. I want to gain little bit more weight and have a little bit more muscle mass on me heading into this season after experiencing a lot of these hits and you know, the game just played a little bit faster here.
Recently, Pickett’s personal quarterback coach, Tony Racioppi joined 93.7 The Fan to discuss the second-year quarterback’s offseason and new look. Racioppi stated that after the Steelers’ season finished, Pickett visited the University of Pittsburgh’s Iron Works and underwent a personal offseason program. Racioppi said,
The University of Pittsburgh’s strength staff is second to none. He met with them after the season and got a program from those guys. He started it there and when he came down to Florida for two and a half months, he gave that program to the guys that do the training at the facility that I work at and he got after it.
Currently, Kenny Pickett is at 226 pounds after slimming down for the combine prior to last season and playing at around 213 pounds. Pickett’s weight gain was not unexpected, as he stated earlier in the year that he intended to bulk up in the offseason. Racioppi added, “He looks great. It’s not like he went down and ate cheeseburgers and sat on his butt. He put some size on. He got strong.”
Kenny Pickett’s latest appearance.
Image Source: Instagram
Kenny Pickett may be able to avoid some of the issues that plagued his first season with some more size and strength. He was concussed twice in 2022. Racioppi said, “It’s [finding] the balance between putting on size and being strong to stay healthy through a season, but also at the same time, not get too big that he loses the athleticism which is such a big part of his game.”
After seeing improvements in Pickett’s game following the bye week, the Steelers expect another leap in year two. Pickett is likewise determined to improve on a daily basis. “In order to be great, you have to have a love for the game. I want to be one of the best… I’m ready to take it on,” Pickett stated earlier this week.
Along with weight gain, Racioppi also made a suggestion about Pickett’s worth ethic and motivations. Racioppi stated, “He’s one of those dudes where it is like ‘here are my goals and I am working and I am not stopping until I hit them.”
Kenny Pickett’s improvement in year two is critical for the Steelers’ rebuild, but with an entire offseason to prepare and improve as a football player, the Steelers should be encouraged about what’s next for the young quarterback.
