Is there anything Sidney Crosby cannot do? Growing up, he was a more than capable baseball player, being an all-star third baseman and pitcher, and also dabbed in soccer, before he became a dominant force for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL. While his multisport roots might be known to some, few realize that Crosby also used to throw a football. He might not have fired one since his younger days, but when the chance came on Wednesday, Sid wasn’t just stepping up, he was ready to launch.

Pat McAfee promised a star-studded show at PPG Paints Arena for the Big Night AHT, and he didn’t disappoint. Returning to his hometown, McAfee pulled out all the stops. We had Wiz Khalifa bringing out Steelers super fan Snoop Dogg for a mini concert, who donned gold pants and shoes. We also saw comedian Shane Gillis, who guest refereed a sumo wrestling match. But if you think this was surprising, what happened next was something nobody saw coming. Sidney Crosby showed up in the final act and wowed everyone with his arm strength.

McAfee amped up the stakes with a potential $4 million giveaway during the show, promising to add $1 million to the pot for each successful completion of a series of tough challenges. One of them? Firing a football through a ring. Crosby was part of a football-themed challenge for the $1M prize and was joined by longtime teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang alongside former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.

Before he started, McAfee gave Crosby his flowers, saying, “Sidney, you are dazzling on the ice. Your skating ability is one of your biggest advantages.” As Sidney was just about to throw a football for a million-dollar shot and then the former punter asked the hockey star if he “played any land sports growing up or just hockey?” Crosby answered, “No, a little bit of land sport, a little football, but it’s been a long, long time. Long time.“

As the 37-year-old stood beneath the Stanley Cup championship banners that hung from the rafters, he threw the football and nailed the target. Bang on! Just like that, Sidney added $1 million to the prize pool, and the crowd went wild, with loud “MVP” chants echoing through the arena. Earlier, Skenes, one of the most electric arms in baseball, missed twice, but when it came time for Sid the Kid to step up, he wasn’t fazed in the slightest. Roethlisberger also made his throw as they added $2 million to the prize pool. On Thursday, Crosby talked about the experience.

“It was unreal. I mean, just not something you ever think of,” Crosby said. “What an unbelievable show. Just a great experience. Seeing Ben, seeing a bunch of guys, Paul there… you stand at center ice, you don’t expect to be holding the football, throwing for a million dollars. That’s the last thing you expect when you’re at center ice. So, it’s a little different being out there with no ice, no gear, but just an awesome experience,” the 13x Penguins MVP said.

McAfee also tweeted the video of Crosby’s throw and wrote, “For one million dollars, of course Sidney Crosby. What a legend.”

While the experience was fulfilling for Crosby and others, former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett ended up catching some strays.  Crosby’s perfect throw sparked some unexpected jabs at Pickett on social media.

Sidney Crosby hits the target, Pickett takes the hit

Drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft, Kenny Pickett’s career hasn’t exactly lived up to first-round expectations. His debut season was a bit of a rollercoaster; concussions kept him sidelined, but whenever he returned to the field, he sparked a little hope in Steelers Nation.

In Week 16, during a game against the Raiders, Pickett threw a clutch 14-yard game-winning touchdown to George Pickens with under a minute left on the clock. That very throw made its way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in March 2023. A week later, against the Ravens, he pulled off another late-game comeback. But then came the injury-plagued sophomore season. And last year, when the Steelers turned to Russell Wilson to lead the offense, Pickett requested a trade. 

So yes, when Sidney Crosby nailed that million-dollar throw on stage, the internet wasted no time targeting the former Steelers QB. “Better QB than Kenny Pickett,” wrote a user. Another just stated that the hockey star makes better throws than the footballer, writing, “Sid throws it better than Pickett.” Some even tagged the Steelers playfully, saying that Sidney Crosby could be their QB.

“Hey @steelers, still looking for a QB?” A user posted a short clip of Crosby’s throw from the show and wrote, “Sidney Crosby is officially a better Pittsburgh quarterback than Kenny Pickett.” Another threw a jab at Rodgers as well, commenting, “The Steelers have found their man! Who needs Rodgers? 😂😂 #BigNightAHT Crosby da QB.” The Steelers have been in pursuit of the former Jets man all off-season, with the talks moving at a snail’s pace.

Last month, Philly traded the 26-year-old to the Browns. And if Kenny’s right, the Browns are going to give him a shot at being the QB1. But this didn’t save him from the jabs of the fans after Crosby’s stunning throw.