Mitch Trubisky, undoubtedly, has heard the chants.
In both Steelers' home preseason games, the crowd chanted rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett's name. They didn't chant his.
Even in his first training camp practice, after his second pass, a fan screamed, "put Kenny in!" No one screamed for Mitch.
But Trubisky, following an offseason and camp battle in which he came in as the favorite, will indeed be the team's starter under center come Sunday in Cincinnati.
"This is something I've looked forward to, something I've worked for," Trubisky said Wednesday when asked about the official announcement from Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity and am going to take full advantage… I was kind of anticipating that. I'm just excited for the opportunity. And now we prepare.
"I had a really good camp. I came in here, (with) a lot of experience. I showed I can lead a team."
The reality, however, is that the calls for Pickett will continue unless Trubisky is able to play well enough to squash those desires.
"Just play well. Be consistent," he said of his mindset towards that. "Worry about what I can control and worry about what's best for the Pittsburgh Steelers and winning football games.
"Who I am, and all my experience, I think has helped me get to this point. I think it just showed that I'm able to lead this team and am the best man for the job going forward."
He may be right. But, at a time not all that long ago, Trubisky's career appeared to be heading on a steep downhill slide.
After being drafted second overall, he fizzled out in Chicago. He signed with Buffalo last season, and was able to watch and learn under Josh Allen as the team's top backup.
Now he hopes that he can draw on those prior experiences and turn his career around. But he's not ready to call it a total resurrection, or a 'Phoenix from the Ashes' situation.
"I don't know about a rebirth, but it's the next opportunity for me," he said. "I'm always looking ahead. Looking to see what I can continue to get better at. Right now this is the next opportunity, and I'm just grateful to be in the position with this team, and try to take full advantage of it."
Trubisky is still approaching things like he's in a battle. And he needs to. Pickett was impressive in the preseason, completing nearly 81 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Because of that — and his prior failures — the doubters are certainly prevalent. But does he concern himself with shutting them up? Well, yes, to an extent.
"Eh, you're always trying to do that," he said. "There's always going to be doubters and you're always trying to believe in yourself, your teammates and your supporting cast, that believe in you."
There's no question, he faces an uphill battle in terms of winning over the fanbase, many of which came to love Pickett during his career at Pitt.
But Trubisky seems to hope that his mentality towards the game will win others over, and that there can, in time, become a mutual love between he and the city.
"The people here, their love for football, and how much they care about winning," he said. "Those are two things that are characteristics of me."
