The Pittsburgh Steelers finally made an official announcement on the promotion of Omar Khan. But with that it will take no one by surprise as the news is out and the jig is up since last night. It all started when Aditi Kinkhabwala dropped the news that the team was hiring Pittsburgh native Andy Wiedl as assistant general manager. Moments later several sources reported that Khan was the Steelers man.
Omar Khan and Dan Rooney celebrate Super Bowl 43 / Photo Steelers.com
"I am pleased to announce Omar Khan as our next General Manager," said Art Rooney II on Steelers.com. "Omar has been an integral part of our Football Operations Department during his 21 years with the team, and that experience will serve him well in his new position."
Someone that has worked with Khan since he arrived in Pittsburgh is Steelers captain Cameron Heyward. Heyward spoke highly of the job that outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert has done during his two decades in the Steel City.
“I think Omar has been more of a contract type of guy in that approach, so we’ll see,” Heyward said. “General manager’s a big role. I can tell you what Kev has done in the past. I’ve had a relationship with Kev since I got here. So, obviously, the roles have changed, Omar’s been the guy behind the scenes, doing a lot of other stuff besides just contracts, but there’s a difference of title.”
But Heyward made it known that the role a general manager has is a much deeper than that in which Khan has had in the past 21 years. Khan has always been Colberts right hand man. The Steelers cap guru. But Heyward says its time for Khan to develop that next step. A step in which Khan must be more social.
That is something that Colbert has never been shy about. And whether he was like that during his time in Detroit who knows, but when he cames to Pittsburgh he had to of saw Dan Rooney walking the locker room daily. If the owner was able to do that then there was no reason that Colbert couldn't do it too. Even though Mr. Rooney is no longer with us, Khan new Rooney well. His lessons surely won't be lost with Khan.
“It’s about being present,” Heyward said to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “being able to have conversations with not only players, but coaches, and then putting the best team together to be on the field. I obviously knew Kev was leaning toward retirement. You just never know who’s going to take it, and what Mr. Rooney and Coach T are all looking for. But I have full trust and full faith that they don't do things without a plan, and this is the plan, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Heyward laughed that he was upset that he wasn't able to secure that job saying that he had been pushing hard for it with Mike Tomlin, and Art Rooney II.
“Dang, he beat me out,” Heyward said on Wednesday. “Behind the scenes, I was working my magic. I guess Mike T and Mr. Rooney weren’t feeling it.”
I guess we know what Heyward's aspirations will be once his illustrious NFL career is finished.
