Report: Colorado State hiring former Steelers GM Kevin Colbert as consultant

Colorado State is hiring former Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert as a consultant, per On3’s Pete Nakos. Colbert served as the Steelers’ GM from 2010-22. ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who first reported the development, provided further details on the hire.

“Colbert will help coach Jay Norvell and the school’s player personnel department set up systems for building a football front office,” Thamel wrote on X. “The partnership is with Colbert and Altius Sports Partners, and it will include Altius chairman and veteran administrator Oliver Luck.

“Colorado State AD John Weber and assistant AD Scott Sidwell’s are aiming for an innovative approach for the next iteration of college athletics. …CSU officials view the sport becoming more like the NFL and this as a way to more effectively spend money.”

Colbert began his time with the Steelers in 2000 when they hired him as their director of football operations. During his time in the role, Colbert helped assemble the organization win two Super Bowls.

In 2010, Colbert was promoted to general manager. He was responsible for player transactions and acquisitions as the head executive in the Steelers organization. While he continued to serve as general manager until he left the organization in 2022, he also was the Steelers’ vice president starting in 2016.

Colbert has no experience on a staff at the collegiate level. However, as NIL continues to develop and amateurism slips away, many coaches believe that college football is heading toward a professional model. Evidently, Colorado State is getting ahead of the curve.

Colorado State finished the 2024 campaign with an 8-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark in conference play. It was head coach Jay Norvell’s third season at the helm of the program and the Rams’ best season yet during his tenure.

Colorado State hires new DC Tyson Summers

Kevin Colbert won’t be the only fresh face around Colorado State’s facilities next season. Earlier this month, Colorado State hired Tyson Summers, who served in the same role for the program back in 2015. Norvell is excited to see what Summers brings to the team.

“When I talked to Tyson, I felt really comfortable about the things he was talking about schematically,” Norvell said. “Bottom line, you have to disrupt people with players. You also have to disrupt with scheme, and Tyson has a lot of experience as a coordinator at several schools, he’s been a head coach … He’s been in a leadership role.

“I think he fits my personality as a coach. I’m a coach who has been around a while, been a part of a lot of different styles and different trends. I’m not married to one style of play, whether it’s offense or defense or special teams. I’ve been around long enough to understand you have to solve problems. Often that comes from experience, and Tyson understands that.”