Andrew Fillipponi is not going to quit his job after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Drew Allar even though he said he would quite his job if the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Drew Allar. He is clinging to a technicality.
It comes down to the timeline of the pick.
I don’t think anyone actually blames Fillipponi for choosing to remain employed. However, his responsible decision to continue to support himself and his family does not coincide with the high stakes of a bet he placed on the NFL Draft and that’s super lame. Don’t say something in jest if you aren’t willing to commit!
Andrew Fillipponi gambled his job on the NFL Draft.
Fillipponi grew up in upstate New York and graduated from Syracuse University. He moved to Pittsburgh in 2010 help launch the radio station 93.7 The Fan. He has hosted the ‘Cook and Poni Show’ with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook since 2014, and a weekly show with former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. That is in addition to his work with KDKA-TV.
As with any talking head, some people love him and some people hate him. It depends on who you ask.
Unfortunately for his haters, Fillipponi is not going anywhere any time soon. Even after he put his own job at risk with a promise that he is choosing not to keep!
Fillipponi posted a photo from downtown Pittsburgh on August 16, 2025. It showed a countdown to the NFL Draft with 250 days remaining. The caption is what is important. The Pittsburgh-based radio host promised to quit his job if the Steelers picked Drew Allar in the first round on Thursday.
It almost came to fruition. He got lucky.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Drew Allar.
Drew Allar was not drafted during the first round. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted the former Penn State quarterback with the No. 76 overall pick in the third round on Friday.
The Pennsylvania crowd went absolutely bonkers for the pick.
The Pittsburgh crowd was hype for former Penn State QB Drew Allar 😤
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 25, 2026
The Steelers select him in Round 3, No. 76 overall 💪 pic.twitter.com/lKDVoEvFaM
Andrew Fillipponi promised to quit his job if this exact scenario happened. He let himself off on a technicality.
“Good thing the Steelers drafted Drew Allar 251 days after I made this post! One night earlier and I would have been updating my resume.”
Fair enough. Fillipponi is right! He said 250 days. Allar was drafted 251 days later.
Here’s the issue. Fillipponi later doubled down on his promise and it did not include a specific timeline.
That is the exact place where the Steelers drafted Drew Allar but Fillipponi won’t acknowledge his follow-up post. He is not going to quit.
I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t quit a steady job that I enjoy doing either. Especially if I have been there for more than a decade. But, as someone who works on the internet, I know better than to put my foot in my mouth. I would never make a promise I don’t plan to keep! Even in jest. Even if I get off on a technicality.