As the old saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, they worked on it every day.”
It represents Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Kahn’s football journey to the tee. He started working in the Saints’ football operations department in 1997 in his New Orleans, then in 2001 he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as the team’s football administration coordinator. He gradually rose through the ranks in the front office, attaining the titles of Director of Football Administration and Vice President of Football and Business Administration.
In 2022, after former Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert retired, Khan was chosen from among a long list of candidates to become Pittsburgh’s new general manager.
For more than 20 years, waiting in the wings for an opportunity to become the show’s executive director, Khan learned all the skills necessary to be the right person for the job, according to coach Mike Tomlin, who joined Khan’s office. I was able to do it. Khan attended the office Wednesday as a guest on The Pat McAfee Show.
Tomlin made an impromptu appearance on The Pat McAfee Show and said, “He honed his skills and became a great edgeman.” Streamed live on YouTube.
Khan, who many people think of as “just a guy with a cap,” reassured those who were skeptical (myself included). he has ever a breath of fresh air The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of the most active and aggressive offseasons in recent franchise memory. The team signed CB Patrick Peterson, S Keanu Neal, LB Cole Holcombe and Ellandon Roberts, DL Armon Watts and Bryden Fejoko, WR Hakeem Butler, OL Isaac Semalo and Nate Harbig.
They moved up and down the draft board, re-signed several of their own key free agents, secured their preferred franchise LT in Broderick Jones, and then traded down in the third round to be drafted by LB Nick Harbig. Acquired TE while acquiring the pick. Darnell Washington has insane values.
Khan isn’t just a Cap guru (he’s very good at that). He was mentored by Kevin Colbert for 21 years for the opportunity, surrounded by the right people, including assistant GM Andy Weidl, to learn how the pre-draft process worked and to make calculated trades. and signed a cost-effective free agent that met the team’s needs and drafted the right players who embody what it means to be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tomlin is right to say that Khan has perfected his skills to become the NFL’s most talked about general manager since the offseason began. His move has improved the roster significantly from a year ago and puts Pittsburgh on par with some of the AFC Conference frontrunners. “The Khan Artist” opens new doors for what Pittsburgh Steelers football will look like when it comes to free agency and the NFL Draft. Now, it’s up to Tomlin to turn this team Khan has assembled into a strong playoff contender.