The NFL is currently reviewing Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens’ eye black message during the Sunday night game against the Dallas Cowboys for a potential fine. Pickens had the explicit message “Open F—ing Always” written in silver on his eye black, which may violate the league’s uniform policy. The NFL’s Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 prohibits players from displaying personal messages unless they have been pre-approved by the league office. This review could result in a fine being issued to Pickens.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he was unaware of the message displayed by Pickens and did not notice anything unusual regarding his effort during the game. When asked about the situation, Tomlin stated, “I don’t know what messaging you’re talking about regarding his eye black.” Tomlin did not express any concerns about Pickens’ performance on the field, despite the player’s reduced involvement during the game, with only 34 snaps played.
The NFL has a history of issuing fines for players who display personal messages without prior approval. In 2015, several Steelers players were fined for similar violations, including Cam Heyward, who wrote “Iron Head” on his eye black in memory of his late father, and DeAngelo Williams, who wrote “Find the Cure” to honor family members lost to breast cancer. Another player, William Gay, was fined for wearing purple cleats in support of domestic violence awareness.
Any fine for Pickens’ message is expected to be disclosed in the NFL’s game-day accountability report, which will be issued on Saturday. The situation reflects the NFL’s strict stance on maintaining uniformity and limiting personal expressions on game day, even when the messages are intended as tributes or for causes.
