Former NFL scout details what to expect out of new Steelers general manager

The easy part is out of the way for newly hired Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan who the team promoted to the position in late May. Now comes the hard part; restructuring the Steelers roster and making them a Super Bowl contender in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. Former NFL scout turned nfl.com analyst Bucky Brooks details what to expect out of the new Steelers general manager.

“In elevating Khan to succeed longtime personnel chief Kevin Colbert, the Steelers are promoting a member of their front office who has been with the team since 2001,” said Brooks. “Khan’s 20-plus years of experience working under Colbert not only ensures consistency in player evaluation but also in the relationships that have been established within the building.”

Khan arrived at the Steelers just one year after Colbert was named general manager in 2000. And both individuals played a substantial part in getting the proper personnel on the roster for the Steelers to capture their fifth Super Bowl in 2006. The Steelers front office kept that momentum going as they went on to win Super Bowl XLIII in 2009 against the Arizona Cardinals. And a large part of that success is accredited to them getting arguably the most important position on the football field solidified in the 2004 draft when they selected Roethlisberger. But their success did not stop there when it came to finding quality players throughout the draft.

“Although I have not worked for the Steelers, …they covet blue-collar players with team-first attitudes and winning pedigrees. Despite the less-than-flattering perception that many now associate with some of their best players in recent history (SEE: Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell), issues largely emerged AFTER they were already established players who had carved out their roles through hard work and superior performance.”

Despite the awkward finishes to their Pittsburgh careers, Bell and Brown were tremendous pickups for the Steelers in the draft. Although Brown did not have the big target frame of a number one receiver, he lined up and ran routes effectively from any position. He was a threat in the short, intermediate, and long passing game. Bell was a do-it-all running back. His patient running style and ability to read holes made him a nightmare out the backfield. But what made him indispensable was his ability to catch from the backfield and, at times, lined up on the line like a receiver. At one point, both players were considered the best in their respective positions.

It’s not just drafting that the Steelers front office, with Khan present, excelled at. They can also bring in key players through trade and free agency, like Pro Bowl defensive backs Joe Haden and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Shortly after being released by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, Haden signed a 3-year deal with Pittsburgh. And in 2019, the Steelers made a deal with the Miami Dolphins to acquire Fitzpatrick.

It’s not like Pittsburgh is at the bottom of the barrel in the AFC. So Khan does not have to do a lot of maneuvering to get them back atop of the conference. And if brooks assessment of the Steelers new GM is spot on, Pittsburgh will find themselves back on top much sooner rather than later.