Pittsburgh, PA – April 29, 2025. Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant has reignited a six-year grudge, blasting ex-general manager Kevin Colbert for a 2018 trade that he claims destroyed his NFL career, sources told ESPN Wednesday. Now, Bryant gloats over the Steelers’ failure to find a starting quarterback, predicting an early playoff exit.
Bryant, traded to the Oakland Raiders for a third-round pick in April 2018, saw his career unravel after the deal. His 1,314 yards and 14 touchdowns with Pittsburgh from 2014-2017 were eclipsed by suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, culminating in an indefinite ban in 2018 that sidelined him.
Colbert shipped me to ruin, Bryant told The Pat McAfee Show.
The 33-year-old, a free agent after a failed 2024 comeback with the Washington Commanders, insists the Raiders’ unstable environment fueled his downfall. He argued that Pittsburgh’s structure could have saved him, a view shared by some Steeler Nation fans on Reddit mourning his lost potential.
That trade crushed Martavis’ career, a fan posted on Reddit.
Bryant’s venom turned to glee as he mocked Pittsburgh’s ongoing QB1 woes, with Mason Rudolph and rookie Quin Ewers as the only options after missing Aaron Rodgers and Shedeur Sanders. He taunted the Steelers’ 19th-ranked offense, forecasting an early elimination in the 2025 playoffs.
No QB1, no chance—they’re done, Bryant said on Twitch.
In a stinging rebuke, Bryant expressed delight at Colbert’s legacy being tarnished by Pittsburgh’s eight-year playoff win drought, claiming the 2018 trade set a tone for roster missteps. He predicted the Steelers’ collapse would cement Colbert’s failure, despite the GM’s retirement in 2022.
Colbert’s mistakes haunt them still, Bryant told 93.7 The Fan.
Steeler Nation is split, with X posts defending Colbert’s Super Bowl pedigree but others echoing Bryant’s frustration. As Pittsburgh grapples with a $2 million cap and draft picks like Derrick Harmon, Bryant’s haterade adds spice to a tense offseason, with fans bracing for a make-or-break 2025.
