The Pittsburgh Steelers and Antonio Brown enjoyed an incredible run during the wide receiver's time with the team. However, his off-the-field issues got in the way and brought his tenure in Pittsburgh to an unceremonious end following the 2018 season. As polarizing of a figure as Brown has become since his playing days came to a close, the former All-Pro hasn't lost any of his confidence.
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Wide receiver Antonio Brown runs past defender Atari Bigby during the first half of Super Bowl XLV between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.
Brown never shied away from saying what was on his mind during his time in the NFL, and that has only increased since his final season (2021). On Sunday, Brown took to X (formally known as Twitter) Spaces to answer some questions, and he didn't hesitate to mention the battles he had with former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback, Jalen Ramsey. The way Brown put it, Ramsey had no desire to take him on during his peak in the league.
"Yo, Jalen Ramsey's scared of me. He never locked me up. I killed Jalen Ramsey, he know that. You see what I did to him?... Jalen Ramsey was scared to stick me in the playoffs, and I was hurt. Remember that? I already dominated him."
In 2024, Ramsey will be playing in his second season for the Miami Dolphins, but the shutdown cornerback started his career with several standout years in Jacksonville. Ramsey has been widely considered one of the most talented cornerbacks in the NFL, if not the best. Despite that, Brown and Ramsey matched up twice during the 2018 season, and while Ramsey may not have been scared as Brown remembers, he certainly didn't do much to slow the former Steelers receiver down.
During the 2018 season, the Steelers and Jaguars faced off in Week 11. Brown was in the midst of another brilliant campaign that would result in 1,297 yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns, and while Ramsey would also turn 2018 into a Pro Bowl year, Brown won the day. Pittsburgh pulled out a 20-16 win in that clash, with Brown enjoying a five-catch, 117-yard day with one touchdown, though Ramsey did intercept two passes.
When the 2018 playoffs came around, the Steelers and Jaguars were matched up once again; however, this time, Jacksonville emerged victorious over Pittsburgh. Brown still did his best to carry the passing game, with 132 yards and two scores, but it wasn't enough against a surging, surprising Jaguars team. Ramsey didn't have the same impact on the playoff game as he did in Week 11, but the Jaguars continued on to the 2018 AFC Championship game, and the Steelers went home.
That would end up being Brown's final game in black and gold as he was traded to the then-Oakland Raiders during the 2019 offseason. Brown never came anywhere near the kind of production he had with the Steelers over his final three seasons in the league with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, he did end up winning a Super Bowl with Tom Brady.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown avoids Donte Jackson during a Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Carolina Panthers.
Steelers Want To Avoid The Same Path For George Pickens
George Pickens has shown elite flashes during his first two seasons in the NFL, and the Steelers are banking on him becoming the next dominant receiver in Pittsburgh's storied history. Since being selected in the second round of the 2022 season, Pickens has put up 1,941 yards to go along with his nine touchdowns.
Wide receiver George Pickens (#14) sets up at the line of scrimmage before the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2023 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
However, the Steelers have experienced exceptional receivers who have off-the-field issues, and the front office is hoping that Pickens won't take the same path that Brown did during his incredible and frustrating career. Pittsburgh traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers during the 2024 offseason, leaving Pickens as the starting wide receiver in Arthur Smith's new offense. The Steelers have seen what happens when a talented pass catcher can't be reined in, but if Pickens can master his maturity struggles, Pittsburgh may get another chance to get it right this time around.
