Art Rooney II announces Kevin Colbert's departure as Steelers GM following NFL Draft

Kevin Colbert will be stepping down as general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers once his contract expires in May, and the organization already has started interviewing candidates to replace him.

Team president Art Rooney II confirmed Colbert’s upcoming departure as general manager during a video call with reporters Friday.

Colbert, 65, has been with the Steelers since 2000 when he was hired as the team’s director of football operations. Colbert added the title of general manager in 2010, although his role never changed, and was named a team vice president in 2016.

“We have left the door open, Kevin and I, to possibly have him fill an ongoing role after the draft,” Rooney II said. “We will be conducting a search for a new GM immediately, but we probably won’t make a hire until after the draft.”

Rooney said he already has interviewed Omar Khan, the team’s vice president of football and business administration, and Brandon Hunt, the team’s pro scouting coordinator.

Colbert has worked on a year-to-year contract basis, citing his age and a desire to spend more time with his family. That revolving contract expired after the conclusion of each year’s draft. With the Steelers being an organization that historically has built through the draft, Rooney doesn’t want to interrupt a process that begins in August each season when the college football season begins.

“Kevin will fill his normal role through this year’s draft,” Rooney said. “I don’t see it as something critical that we have somebody on board before the draft even though we will be doing some interviews before the draft.”

The Steelers have won two Super Bowl championships and appeared in a third title game during Colbert’s 22-year tenure. The franchise, though, hasn’t won the Super Bowl since following the 2008 season and has gone 11 seasons without an appearance. The Steelers also haven’t won a playoff game since 2016.

In order to end that drought, Rooney said he’s open to hiring a candidate from outside the organization. Colbert was an outside hire when he was lured from the Detroit Lions in 2000 to replace Tom Donahoe.

“We’re certainly not afraid to bring somebody in from the outside if need be,” Rooney said.

Khan, 44, has worked for the organization since 2001. He was promoted to director of football administration in 2011 and gained his current title in 2016. Khan has interviewed for several NFL GM openings in recent years, and he interviewed this week with the Chicago Bears but was not hired.

Khan, though, lacks the scouting background Rooney said is an integral part of the GM position.

“A GM has a lot of responsibility these days,” Rooney said. “We’ll be hiring somebody who can fill those responsibilities, which include, No. 1, being a talent evaluator and putting our draft together, and everything else that goes into being an NFL GM today.

“We’re looking for someone who fits with the way we’re structured and our culture. We’re not planning to change our culture here. Someone would have to be able to fit that culture and that role.”

Hunt has a scouting background and has spent the past 12 seasons with the Steelers and 14 overall. He interned in the scouting department in the 2005-06 seasons, then spent two years with the Houston Texans before returning to Pittsburgh.

Hunt reportedly interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders this week for their vacant GM opening.

“We sort of trained him, Kevin trained him,” Rooney said. “He knows the Steeler way, if you will. He also spent some time at Houston, so it’s not as though he’s never been outside these walls. I think it has been a good experience for him. As he’s grown through the years, he’s taken on additional responsibilities and has handled them well.

“Brandon has the kind of experience we’re looking for and will be a good candidate.”

In the new chain of command, coach Mike Tomlin’s role in the decision-making process won’t change or expand.

“I don’t expect to make dramatic changes in terms of those responsibilities, coach versus GM,” Rooney said. “I think it has worked well, and we’re not really trying to make a big change there.”