Steelers Officially Introduce New GM Omar Khan: "It'll Be a Smooth Transition"

Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers named Omar Khan as the team's new General Manager. Friday, the Steelers officially introduced Khan as the team's new GM.

Steelers' familiarity with Khan had to help the team feel comfortable about transitioning to a new GM after 20+ years under former GM Kevin Colbert. 

Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert and Vice President of Football and Business Operation Omar Khan after practice at training camp Wednesday August 3, 2016 at St Vincent College in Latrobe. (Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review)

Khan opened up by saying:

"Hello everyone, appreciate you guys all being here today on my account. I want to begin by thanking Art Rooney and the entire search committee, Dan Rooney Jr., Kevin Colbert, and Coach T [Mike Tomlin]. I'm confident that time will show that this was the right decision for this franchise. I'm excited and I can tell you that I don't take anything for granted. I understand the expectations that come with this job, but I can ensure everyone that the expectations that I set for myself are even greater. Before I take any questions, I'd like to just mention some people that have been very important to me in my life. First and foremost, my wife, Kristin, and our two daughters. I'm so blessed to have them in my life. The four of us, we make such a great team together. I have a great team here at work, and when I go home I have a great team. Although, I have no authority with that team when I go home." Khan joked.

Omar Khan is introduced as the Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager at a press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Friday, May 27, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)

Khan went on to thank many more, including his parents, Dan Rooney, "Mean" Joe Greene, Bill Nunn, Bill Cowher, etc. He was then asked if this was a goal or dream.

"My dream since I was young, I spoke to Missi [Matthews] yesterday,  she asked me when did I realize that I wanted to be a general manager. And I said, look, when I was running around on that football field and I realized I wasn't as good of an athlete as everyone else on that field. I said I better change course and not try to be Archie Manning, but try to be Jim Finks, maybe."

Khan was then asked; "How much will things change with you from Kevin, will you do things differently?"

"Obviously, being in this role, responsibilities shift a little bit, but I'll have my hands on a lot of things that I've done before. And, obviously, I'll have my hands in other things. But yeah, it'll be a smooth transition."

When asked, "You beat out 15 other candidates, what do you think put you over the edge in Art's eyes?"

"You know, you'd have to ask Art that. I think that I'm the right person for the job. I think I'm going to be successful. Those were all great candidates, most of those guys, I know very well, they're all very qualified. I'm pretty certain that everyone of those guys will be a general manager at some point."

Khan on the process of becoming Steelers' new GM:

"I guess I had the advantage of having gone through this process before. And I understand what it entails. When you're in this business, you work hard just to get to the point where you're in the mix. You're always appreciative, so I was patient. I had the experience of going through it before."

Omar Khan is introduced as the Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager at a press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Friday, May 27, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)

Watch the full presser here!

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