guides
What's With Memes Showing George Pickens Watching TV? The NFL Meme Showing Pickens Getting Drafted In A Ski Mask Explained
A photo of football player George Pickens staring at his television screen while craning his neck at an odd angle is making a second comeback this NFL season.
But the layman coming across the meme may not know that they are looking at the Steeler's wide receiver, thanks to Pickens' go-to sports accessory — a sheisty that covers most of his head.
But where did this video of Pickens looking at his TV come from, and how did people realize it was him?
The answer lies in the origin of the meme format, which can be traced back to 2022 when Pickens was first drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Where Did The Video Of Pickens Looking At His TV Come From?
Pickens was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in April 2022, a year after he made a heroic comeback and recovered from a torn ACL during his junior season.
In a video posted by Pickens' friend on Instagram, we see him staring and nodding at his TV as Chase Claypool announces that he's been drafted by the Steelers. His friends and family, who were just out of site toward the start of the video, are now seen celebrating his success.
How Did The Photo Of George Pickens Getting Drafted Become A Meme?
The exploitable image of Pickens craning his neck and staring at his TV was ripe for meme edits, as people could swap out anything they wanted to put onto Pickens' screen, as seen in an early meme from May 2022 when a New York Jets fan posted an edit showing Pickens looking at Zach Wilson to Reddit.
But it took some fans a while to realize that they were looking at a photo of Pickens, with one X user saying, "Nah, I thought this was a meme. Ain’t no way this was George Pickens’ draft fit."
To Pickens' credit, he has always preferred wearing a full-on mask that covers up his chin and head, often called a "sheisty" in New York and Pittsburgh.
Some people joked that Pickens was either going to be a Hall of Famer or get suspended by week four, with no in-between. Others chimed in to agree, saying that he had chaotic "Black Air Force 1s energy."
George Pickens will either be an All-Pro or suspended by Week 4, no in between pic.twitter.com/3mDjT3BHa1
— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) May 2, 2022
For what it's worth, PGSports reporter Brian Batko asked Pickens how he felt about the meme in May 2022, a question Pickens took well.
He says he found the memes quite funny and that he actually had an explanation for his odd stance. "Literally, someone caught me at a weird angle at a weird time. I stood up out of a chair, I had the ski thing on, that took it over the top."
For the full history of George Pickens' Drafted Reaction, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
