Kenny Pickett
A quarterback whose clutch college career led to a dramatic NFL draft moment, followed by a professional journey marked by resilience and a Super Bowl ring.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American football player·Birthday: June 6·Generation Z
Biography
Kenny Pickett's football story is etched in Pittsburgh lore. At the University of Pittsburgh, he evolved from a promising recruit into a local hero, rewriting the school's record books. His final collegiate season was a masterpiece, capped by a game-winning touchdown run in the final seconds to beat rivals West Virginia. That momentum carried him to become the first quarterback selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, staying in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. His rookie season had flashes of that late-game magic, including a game-winning drive against the Raiders. While his starting tenure with the Steelers was uneven, he helped secure a playoff berth in 2023. A trade to Philadelphia repositioned him as a backup, a role that placed him on the roster for the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX victory, adding a championship chapter to his evolving career narrative.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Kenny was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kenny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Kenny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's top senior quarterback.
- Set the University of Pittsburgh's all-time records for passing yards and touchdowns.
- Selected in the first round (20th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
- Was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles team that won Super Bowl LIX.
Did You Know?
He famously used a fake slide to score a touchdown during the 2021 ACC Championship game, a move later outlawed in college football.
His hands were measured at just 8.5 inches at the NFL Combine, a topic of much pre-draft discussion.
He played his final college game in the same stadium (Heinz Field) where he would begin his professional career.
“You've got to have that short-term memory, whether it's good or bad.”
