The Pittsburgh Steelers recently heard a wild report from one of their former players. Tight end Eric Ebron came out and said that many of the players had absolutely no respect for now-General Manager Omar Khan, who was an assistant at the time when Ebron was in Pittsburgh. He also called out his recent draft picks ever since getting that title, saying that they have not done anything yet. From what he said, he made it seem like "The Khan Artist" was conning Pittsburgh into not thinking he is a terrible executive.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
However, not everyone sees it like that. On the latest episode of Deebo & Joe, former Steelers cornerback Joe Haden gave his take on the situation and why he would think like that.
"I know Ebron personally, and I know that we basically left at the same time," Haden explained. "When you start seeing these [NFL executives], and they act like you had regular conversations and you want to ask them questions, they're nice to you, but at the end of the day, when it comes to the business side, they will still chop you and not send you an offer -- you feel like, 'Anything. Offer me something.' Business is business."
From what Haden said, it seems like Ebron was just upset that he never got another offer from Pittsburgh after his two-year contract with the team expired. Another thing that was mentioned on the show was that at the time, one of Khan's duties was to handle the money aspect of contracts, so that's why the former tight end was more upset at him than at Kevin Colbert, who was the general manager at the time.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' former general manager, Kevin Colbert hangs out on the field during a training camp back when he was the head of the team's front office.
Later on in the show, Haden directly challenged Ebron's claim by offering a token of respect to the Steelers' current general manager.
"When I came from Cleveland, me and Omar, we had a great relationship," Haden said. "When I had my re-up, we had another great relationship."
Haden never said anything about having a bad relationship with Khan when the Steelers decided to let him walk in free agency. They worked well the two times that they negotiated a deal together, and even though he was not too pleased about not receiving another contract offer, he still has a ton of respect for him, and he continues to sing his praises years after his time in Pittsburgh ended.
Steelers Are Proving Ebron's Other Bold Claim To Be False
Ebron also spoke about how the Steelers have made poor draft picks under Khan, which is just factually incorrect. The 2023 draft resulted in numerous fan favorites being drafted: Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Washington, and Nick Herbig. The two defensive players on that list are expected to get big extensions in the upcoming offseason, with Washington looking to prove that he's not a one-contract guy.
AP
Steelers' Nick Herbig celebrates with Joey Porter Jr. during a road game.
In 2024, the Steelers selected three high-end offensive linemen within 100 picks of each other. Very few teams can say that they have ever done that, and it has allowed these prospects to grow together in their first two seasons. As long as they keep growing, the right side of the offensive line will be a problem for any defensive front. An identity was built in that draft: one that will likely last for a decade.
The 2025 draft class gave the Steelers an even more fearsome defensive line, with Derrick Harmon and Jack Sawyer being absolute steals with how far they fell. These draft classes in the Khan era were not exactly flash or full of playmakers, but they were full of Pittsburgh-type players, and they play that brand of football exceptionally well. With the trenches figured out, the flashier picks will seemingly come.
What do you think about Haden defending Khan after Ebron's comments? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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