Former Steelers GM Kevin Colbert Gives A Behind The Scenes Look At The Stubbornness Of The Organization's Leadership

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most consistent organizations in North American sports, and that is something that the franchise surely takes pride in. Currently, the team is riding a 21-year streak of not having a losing season, which is impressive; however, it has led to a ton of mediocrity in recent years. A large portion of the fan base believes that the organization has become happy with finishing with a non-losing season, and that the franchise has lost sight of the actual goal, which is a Super Bowl.

Blame has been tossed around to multiple decision-makers within the organization. This includes Head Coach Mike Tomlin, General Manager Omar Khan, and Team President Art Rooney II. The standard in Pittsburgh used to be winning Championships, but the organization has been stuck in purgatory for far too long now. 

Fans have blamed the team's brass for their unwillingness to change their ways, and a recent quote from former General Manager Kevin Colbert the podcast Off Set With Kinger And The Big Man proves that might actually be the case.

"They [The Rooneys] have one goal." Colbert said. "It's very simplistic. We want to win a National Football League championship, period. And we're gonna try to do it this way. It's not that you don't have ideas that you can bring from the outside, but you quickly understand that, look, they've been successful. Sure, they want some different ideas, but those ideas are always going to be under the understanding that we've been successful. We wanna get back there, what else can we do? But in the meantime, we're probably gonna do it this way."

The way Colbert explained it, it seems as though Rooney is open to suggestions and opinions, but it is very unlikely the organization changes the way it does things. It is set in its ways. This probably means winning on the defensive side of the ball, while also following every little trend that has taken place throughout the history of the organization. 

This includes not conducting contractual business during the season, only giving second contracts to wide receivers who truly deserve it, and having an obnoxious amount of loyalty when it comes to the coaching staff.

The way the Steelers want to win is not a way to win in the current version of the NFL. For instance, the Steelers have had the leagues highest-paid defense in the league throughout each of the last three seasons. A common theme over that time span is getting blown out in the postseason. The defense does not show up when it matters, and the unit is also in large part run by Tomlin. 

The group gave up 299 yards on the ground in the Wild Card Round at the end of the 2024 season. Things need to change regarding the way the team wants to do things, but that won't happen under Rooney and Tomlin.

Colbert's comments made it seem as though the team's brass will entertain any idea, but ultimately shut it down. They made the organization sound stubborn, which is exactly what it seems like from the outside looking in.

Steelers Need To Notice A New Trend In The NFL

Pittsburgh is one of the most successful organizations in the league when it comes to team success. The franchise has won six Super Bowls which is tied for the most in the league's history. 

The winning formula Pittsburgh has always used is how those Lombardi Trophies wound up on the South Side, but the NFL has changed a lot since Pittsburgh's last victory in the big game. Going the last seven seasons without winning a playoff game while having a decent amount of talent is absolutely inexcusable, and it should be all the proof that is needed to show that whatever the team's brass is trying to do, it is not working.

What do you think about Colbert's comment? Let us know in the comments below!

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