On an otherwise slow NFL news day Friday, the Houston Texans made the surprising decision to fire general manager Brian Gaine, and the New York Jets concluded their GM search by hiring Joe Douglas.
These personnel decisions illustrate the stability the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed with Kevin Colbert calling the shots atop the team’s football operations.
Colbert is entering his 20th season with the organization and 10th with the title of general manager. Among the 32 NFL franchises, Colbert ranks fourth in longest tenure with his team – third in terms of being his team’s highest profile decision maker.
The only teams with longer stability at the top are the Dallas Cowboys, with owner Jerry Jones doubling as GM; the Cincinnati Bengals, although owner Mike Brown ceded most decision-making power to Duke Tobin in 2002; and the New England Patriots, with coach Bill Belichick filling dual roles since January 2000, a few weeks before Colbert joined the Steelers.
Colbert’s longevity with the Steelers is impressive considering that 17 NFL teams have changed general managers in the past five years.
