The 23-year-old adds another hefty sum to his already long list of NFL fines.
Key Takeaways
- George Pickens received a $10,231 fine from the NFL for displaying an explicit message on his eye black during the Week 5 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
- Alongside the eye black penalty, Pickens was fined an additional $10,230 for pulling Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis down by the facemask, totaling $20,463 in fines from the game.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has found himself in hot water with the NFL after being fined $10,231 for a controversial message displayed on his eye black during the recent matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
The eye black bore the explicit phrase “Open F***ing Always,” which caught the attention of NFL officials.
The league viewed the message as a violation of its uniform policy that prohibits the display of personal or profane messages, leading to a hefty fine.
The NFL fined #Steelers WR George Pickens $10,231 for displaying a “personal message” on his eye-black last week. pic.twitter.com/00r0mdMftx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 12, 2024
The eye black wasn’t the only issue for Pickens during the game. He also received a separate $10,230 fine for an incident involving Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis, where Pickens pulled Lewis down by his facemask after a play.
The combined fines from that game alone amounted to $20,463, marking a continuation of Pickens’ history with on-field conduct penalties—he’s accumulated several fines over the course of his young career, including taunting and blindside blocks in previous seasons.
George Pickens has ZERO class.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 7, 2024
At a minimum, he should be fined and deserves to be suspended for a game. pic.twitter.com/4idfNw3KDv
When asked about the fine, Pickens stated that he was unaware of the rule against such messages on eye black.
His response to a reporter’s question about teammate Cameron Heyward, who was fined for a similar infraction in 2015, showed that Pickens was either not informed or indifferent to the potential consequences of his actions.
Dismissively, he commented,
Never seen it before. Years ago? When I wasn’t in the league? So, nah
steelersnow.com
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed Pickens’ behavior and his reduced snap count in the game, explaining that it was part of a broader effort to improve productivity and manage the workload of key players.
Tomlin emphasized there was no deeper reason behind the decision to reduce Pickens’ playing time, but it was evident that Pickens’ emotional control and on-field conduct are areas that still require attention.
George Pickens is a comedian pic.twitter.com/eBuEbrse3T
— tommy 🇻🇳 (@SuspendedTommy) October 7, 2024
Pickens’ actions and the resulting fines have sparked mixed reactions among fans, with some praising his competitiveness while others call for better discipline.
As the Steelers look to correct their course after a tough loss to the Cowboys, Pickens will need to focus on maintaining a positive impact on the field, free from distractions that could hurt both his and the team’s progress.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- George Pickens played college football at the University of Georgia. He immediately impacted as a freshman in 2019, leading the team with 49 receptions for 727 yards and 8 touchdowns.
- Pickens was born on March 4, 2001, in Hoover, Alabama. He attended Hoover High School, where he was a standout player, recording 69 receptions for 1,368 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior year.
- George Pickens was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
