Colts Trade Receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to Steelers

Trade leaves Pat McAfee screaming 'f**k' live on-air

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Indianapolis Colts have traded wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers, prompting an expletive-filled reaction from avid Colts fan Pat McAfee during a live broadcast.

Why it matters

Pittman was a key part of the Colts' passing attack, and his departure leaves a void that the team will need to fill. The trade also highlights the difficult decisions teams face when managing their salary cap and roster.

The details

The Colts were able to retain receiver Alec Pierce on a $116 million contract extension, but that meant they had to trade away Pittman. The Steelers acquired Pittman for a late-round pick swap and will sign him to a new three-year, $59 million extension.

  • The trade was announced on March 9, 2026.

The players

Michael Pittman Jr.

A wide receiver who spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Alec Pierce

A wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts who recently signed a $116 million contract extension.

Pat McAfee

A former NFL punter and current sports media personality who is an avid fan of the Indianapolis Colts.

Daniel Jones

The quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, whose future free agency status was a factor in the team's decision to trade Pittman.

Adam Schefter

An ESPN reporter who broke the news of the trade between the Colts and Steelers.

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What they’re saying

“OH NOOOO BREAKING NEWS: The Indianapolis Colts are trading Michael Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers”

— Pat McAfee (The Pat McAfee Show)

What’s next

The Steelers will officially sign Pittman to his new three-year, $59 million contract extension.

The takeaway

This trade highlights the difficult decisions teams must make when managing their salary cap and roster, as the Colts were forced to part ways with a key offensive weapon in Pittman in order to retain another receiver in Alec Pierce. The reaction from McAfee underscores how impactful Pittman's departure will be for the Colts and their fanbase.