The Pittsburgh Steelers and former general manager Kevin Colbert at this time last year were deep into draft preparations to try and replace franchise cornerstone quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. After evaluating the film, attending pro days, hosting prospects for dinner, and watching the combine, the team decided Kenny Pickett was their guy to lead them into the next era of Steeler football.
Photo Credit: Don Wright / AP Photo
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.
Now a year later and while Colbert is still keeping busy in a new role, the draft and the evaluation of prospects, something Colbert had a sterling reputation for during his 22 years as the man in charge of football operations in Pittsburgh, are far away from his mind.
While he's still offering his insight and expertise to head coach, Mike Tomlin and his successor, Omar Khan occasionally, Colbert told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac that he's "not doing any football," as he remains focused on his new role helping Steelers alumni.
"We direct guys with specific issues to the possible help they can have, but we’re also trying to show them player opportunities, educational opportunities, financial aid type of opportunities, assistance, family assistance,” he said about what he's doing in his new job with the organization.
"There are so many things they have access to through the league, through the NFL alumni. We show them what’s here, but when we also hear of somebody who is looking for help in whatever area — health and wellness, mental health, financial — we direct them to the right people that can help them do it."
How Steelers' former GM Got His New Gig
During his over two decades in Pittsburgh, Colbert was focused on how he could help put the Steelers' players in the best situations to have success on the field. In his coming up on a year in so-called retirement, his focus has been helping mostly newly retired alumni figure out how to navigate life after football.
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Steelers Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert
Colbert has taken on the job of heading the organization's "Lend A Hand" program which was started in 2019 in memory of the late, great chairman Dan Rooney, who always went out of his way to make sure that alumni felt like a part of the Steelers family. The program had to be put on a bit of hiatus during the pandemic years, but when Colbert decided he was done with the rigors of being an NFL general manager, helping out some of the players he'd gotten to know so well as they moved into a new phase of their lives, made sense as he moved into a new chapter of his own.
Photo Credit: Steelers.com
Steelers' late chairman Dan Rooney poses with then GM Kevin Colbert at the team's Super Bowl XL ring ceremony.
“When he decided to retire, he didn’t want to retire-retire,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said to Dulac about Colbert. “He wants to stay active doing things, and one of the things we talked about was him being more involved with the alumni. He actually came up with the idea to create this program after my dad’s efforts to lend a hand to players over the years. Kevin is passionate about it and dedicated to it. It’s off to a good start.”
Working with the Steelers' senior manager of alumni relations Lynne Molyneaux, Colbert has been hosting monthly meetings with team alumni on a variety of different topics that relate to successfully transitioning to life after football. For Colbert, it's a rewarding experience that allows him to maintain relationships with players, some of which he knew when they were college kids.
"It’s a way to give back, really, to the guys who helped you,” Colbert said. “We’re just trying to lend a hand.”
So, Steeler Nation, how important is it that the team takes good care of the alumni? Comment below!
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