Art Rooney II: G.M. Kevin Colbert will step down after the 2022 draft

Posted by Myles Simmons on January 28, 2022, 2:15 PM EST
USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this month, NFL Media reported that longtime Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert planned to step down after the 2022 draft.

But the team did not comment on that news until Friday.

According to multiple reporters, Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed that Colbert will step down in the spring — though there is mutual interest from Colbert and the team for him to remain with the organization in a reduced capacity.

Rooney also mentioned that Pittsburgh has already interviewed its vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan along with pro scouting coordinator Brandon Hunt to be the team’s next G.M. But the club will also interview external candidates for the role. However, Rooney noted that the organization will not be changing its structure so any external hire would have to fit into that.

Rooney noted Pittsburgh is not rushing to replace Colbert, as he’ll continue to run things through the draft.

Khan generated some outside interest from the Bears during this hiring cycle. Hunt interviewed with the Raiders for their G.M. opening earlier this week.

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18 responses to “Art Rooney II: G.M. Kevin Colbert will step down after the 2022 draft”

  1. It would be best to wait until 2023 to draft a quarterback then. The Steelers had a first round grade on Mason Rudolph.

  2. So he’s going to take a qb with the first round pick and then not be around to take the blame when it doesn’t work out? What are the Steelers thinking? Let the new GM run the draft. Rooney is not thinking clearly here.

  3. The New guy ought to able to draft His players. Not live with Colberts. If the cook is leaving remodel the kitchen in total

  4. Hunt is the one for GM. Just hire him already. Khan is the salary cap guy. Give him a raise.

    Then let Hunt choose his own coach.

  6. citizenstrange says:
    It would be best to wait until 2023 to draft a quarterback then. The Steelers had a first round grade on Mason Rudolph.
    ————————
    But they didn’t draft Rudolph until the third round. The QB he did draft in the first round will be in the hall of fame in five years.
    And despite drafting on average 25th every year, his team won many division titles, went to three super bowls, winning two.

  7. Let Colbert Pick a QB, and let him play this year.
    If he stinks, no harm, no foul. Let the new GM pick a new QB next year.

  8. What a mess,lame duck GM and no Big Ben… I can see Tomlin walking away next year.
    “takeing a break” like Sean Payton.
    Same for Arians if TB12 retires and his free agents go elsewhere.
    Credit to Belichick, at least he had the nerve to go through a rebuild project.

  9. Yeah – odd he is leaving after draft. The man has plucked some draft plums – Ben, moving up to draft Polamalu & S Holmes. Of course, AB in the 5th round for about 8 productive yrs – before the CTE & narcissism kicked in.

  10. Successful organizations tend to hire the GM before the coach. Too bad Tomlin, who I believe is a good coach although he should change scenery, will basically select the next GM.

  11. But they didn’t draft Rudolph until the third round. The QB he did draft in the first round will be in the hall of fame in five years.

    Don’t waste your time with facts and logic as this supposed Steeler fan will never be happy about anything they do unless it’s his idea….he is the secret GM.

    Colbert has done a great job considering their draft position and cap situation…sad to see him go but change is not always bad but inevitable.

  12. His failure to prioritize a replacement after Roethlisberger’s injury was catastrophic failure in what was an otherwise solid tenure as GM. But how he never upgraded the position despite Ben’s age, and after witnessing a year of Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges at quarterback makes one wonder if he lost it before Roethisberger did…

  13. –Let the new GM run the draft. Rooney is not thinking clearly here.
    –Why would you keep a GM around for a draft when he is stepping down? Makes no sense.

    Yeah, why would you want a guy running your draft with the following accomplishments:
    –2 Super Bowls
    –3 AFC championships
    –10 division titles
    –14 playoff appearances.
    –1 losing season
    –18 consecutive non-losing seasons
    –Drafted Pro Bowlers: David DeCastro, Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Maurkice Pouncey, Ryan Shazier, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace, James Conner, Casey Hampton, Heath Miller, Santonio Holmes
    –Not to mention Hall-of Famers: Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu
    SMH

  15. They are going to promo0te from within so the next GM will be involved in the draft and already have a relationship with the head coach. This will not be a typical new GM situation that many other teams find themselves with.

  17. You keep the current GM through the draft because so much of the scouting has already been done. Evaluations and discussions with the scouts and other personnel staff have been going on for a while on the 2022 prospects they don’t just start after the season ends. A new GM means all that gets reset and your whole organization is playing catch up. It makes sense assuming you aren’t during the guy for being terrible at drafting.

  18. LOL at people thinking a brand new GM could put together a draft strategy and do all the necessary scouting in less than 3 months.

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