Steelers' Omar Khan "Red Flagged" By Other NFL Teams For Daring To Do Business Differently

The Pittsburgh Steelers created the title of general manager for Kevin Colbert in 2010. He was named the director of football operations in 2000, which was the organization's de facto general manager title. The Steelers have had executives before, like Dick Haley and Tom Donahoe, who held different titles, but were essentially doing the job for decades. When Colbert became the first official title holder to resign from the position, the Steelers promoted Omar Khan after the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Khan has gone through two regular seasons and one offseason with the title. The 2023 offseason was heralded as the most active the Steelers had been in years. Khan hired his main rival, Andy Weidl, as his assistant. The dynamic duo produced mixed results in free agency, but the best Steelers draft in years when they found starters and key contributors with virtually every pick for a 2023 playoff team. 

On Monday, former NFL scout John Middlekauff joined The Colin Cowherd Podcast. The decision to retain Kenny Pickett was criticized again by Colin Cowherd, who is no fan of Mike Tomlin and the Steelers organization. Middlekauff decided to go even further than Cowherd and roasted Khan for their seeming disinterest in bringing in Russell Wilson. 

"The moment you sign that deal, Russell [Wilson] is not competing for a job. He's better than Kenny Pickett," Middlekauff opined. "If that truly happens and you are not interested in these other guys and aren't actively drafting a quarterback, that's insane. One thing I've heard in the league is for a long period of time, with Kevin Colbert, who was one of the best general managers in the league, and Mike Tomlin, who is a really solid coach, has some flaws, Mike Tomlin's better than most. This transition and the new front office, I don't think they are quite viewed as the same powerhouse."

The statement perfectly illustrates how many in the national media ignore the simple facts in Pittsburgh. During the first half of his career, Colbert was arguably a Hall of Fame general manager. Since 2016, a strong argument could be made that he should have been fired. Colbert was allowed to retire, and the current Steelers roster has paid a heavy price after seven consecutive horrible drafts to end his career. The fact that Khan and Weidl are not viewed the same is a badge of honor, not a criticism. 

"The [Baltimore] Ravens, who transitioned from Ozzie [Newsome] (who works more than any retired human you will see), the Ravens didn't skip a beat," Middlekauff pontificates. "I think the Steelers got a lot going on when it comes to the transition. Most teams don't just go smooth from GM to GM or coach to coach. I just think they are an organization to kind of keep an eye on. How long can you keep this up? 50 years? A lot of people in the NFL kind of have them red-flagged operationally. Not necessarily Tomlin, just the new GM, the new thoughts from the front office."

Khan drew universal praise and was given the nickname "Khan Artist," which was highly publicized by The Pat McAfee Show in 2023. The Steelers are doing business differently under Khan. He traded a malcontent wide receiver, Chase Claypool, for essentially a franchise cornerback in Joey Porter Jr. They also signed free agents over 30 and fired a coach during the season. Pittsburgh does not change head coaches or front office personnel often, but immediate, effective change follows when they do. 

The sheer gall in the national media to ignore the current reality of the Steelers organization never lets up. If anyone drew massive amounts of heat in 2023, it was the Steelers head coach, who dropped three games in a row for the sixth consecutive season before rallying the Steelers to an AFC Wild Card berth.

"He's more of an analytical guy, come over originally from the contract stuff. Kevin Colbert [is] more of an old school, Rooney type scout," Middlekauff continued. "It's just something to peak at as we move on."

Cowherd, who intently listened to the buffoonish stylings of Middlekauff until he finished, decided to place at least some of the blame where it belonged, which was on the Steelers head coach. The Fox Sports host reminded Middlekauff of the ever-softening standard in Pittsburgh over the last decade and the vaunted never-had-a-losing season talking point becoming increasingly loathsome to Steelers fans. 

"Whenever I hear this never had a losing season, it's so odd to me," Cowherd responded. "Can you imagine [Sean] McVay bragging about that? Pittsburgh's standard went down. You can go look at Dave Wannstedt. Wannstedt when he was in Miami, four years he had a better winning percentage, I believe than Tomlin and he got run. The Rooney's are reticent to make big sweeping changes and Mike's secure. Just off the top of my head when I think of Super Bowl teams, I haven't thought of the Steelers in seven, eight years. I consider them to be the 20th-best football team in the league."

Steelers Owner Art Rooney II Must Take A More Active Role to Address Team's Descent Into Mediocrity

Assessing blame on social media or the actual media is an outlet for fans to vent their frustrations and have them confirmed by commentators like Cowherd and failed scouts like Middlekauff. It makes us feel better, but does not address the real issue facing the Steelers. No significant changes will be made until Art Rooney II decides to assess blame. 

Colbert was allowed to retire by the organization, like many key figures who stayed too long in Pittsburgh. Khan is attempting to restore a once proud organization to greatness. If pulling off clever trades and putting together great draft classes gets him red-flagged by his contemporaries, and if it makes the rest of the NFL uncomfortable, good. Red might be Khan's color. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? How do you think Khan is doing as a general manager? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq. 

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