Omar Khan is a boss, and he’s not just A boss, he’s THE boss - and he’s doing a pretty darn good job of it so far as we can see. As the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers since May 2022, and on board with the team for 23 years now, Khan is a good example of how the right person for the job can make a big impact.
Photo Credit: Maya Giron / Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers Owner Art Rooney (right) and GM Omar Khan (left) stand together at a press conference announcing Khan's new position as the team's general manager on May 27, 2022.
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A Hire for The Ages
How many people can say that they’ve worked for the same company for over 20 years, these days? Omar Khan, that’s who. The General Manager has been with the Steelers team since as far back as 2001, when he came into the Operations Coordinator role for player personal development. Since then, Khan moved into the role of Director of Football Administration, followed by VP of Football and Business Administration. In 2022, Khan took over the role of GM from the widely successful helm of Kevin Colbert, who was retiring at the time.
Prior to the Steelers, Khan worked for the New Orleans Saints for four years. With his experience alongside Colbert, the hire was almost a no-brainer, as Omar had the in-depth knowledge of the culture, years of experience with the team, and the trust of the players behind him. Khan’s had a keen eye for talent since his days as a student at Tulane, which has served him well throughout his career - and stepping into the GM role has been no different.
Don Wright / AP
Steelers' former GM Kevin Colbert is still around the organization helping out, but his focus has shifted away from wins and losses on the field.
Khan’s Top Picks
One of the biggest coups of Khan’s career came just recently, nabbing quarterback Russell Wilson. At 35, Wilson is considered a late-age QB, however, the contract with the Steelers is only $1.21M, which was considered an absolute steal.
Since Wilson is still contracted to the Broncos, they have $37.79M of his contract in 2024 to pay out. While Wilson’s current play with the Steelers starting off leaves a lot to be desired, the deal is considered a steal if he can boost his performance. With the also newly acquired Justin Fields vs Wilson dilemma, it’s not certain which QB will come out on top.
Another offseason deal, a draft pick swap from the Philadelphia Eagles for Kenny Pickett, resulting in picking up Payton Wilson, has proved very promising. Fans and critics alike have been impressed with Payton’s moves on the field. Two Wilsons in one team, however, isn’t going to be easy for commentators! And that's not to mention rookie receiver Roman Wilson as well!
Cordarrelle Patterson was a bit of a gamble, based on the new kickoff rules, to try and grab someone who is already a great kick returner. How this move plays out across the season is yet to be seen. At 33, Patterson’s also late in his career, leading to a short signing.
Of course, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is still in the mix for a preseason trade, where he’s reportedly asked to go to the Steelers.
It’s Still Early Days
With Khan only just really getting started in his role as GM and taking the reins, these first few seasons will be interesting to see how the team is shaped and sculpted in their quest for the Super Bowl. While picks based on talent are obvious, seeing how each player will fit into the team and its culture is just as important to build a strong side.
Khan has a lot to prove, as would any newly minted GM stepping into the role, but he has seemed to make the move smoothly. As part of the free agency moves, those in the know have rated Khan from grades A to C, showing that not everyone has the same opinion on the matter.
The Athletic
As the new season begins, we will get to see just how effective Khan has been in his strategy, and how the team comes together as a whole as things progress. With their first game against the Atlanta Falcons on the 8th of September at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Steelers are looking to prove their worth to fans and the football community. We’ll be watching to see exactly how this plays out.
