After Omar Khan’s 3-year extension by Steelers, examining his 1st 3 seasons

Omar Khan is often referenced as, “The Khan Artist” by Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Even the team’s head coach once relayed that it was “a cool nickname.”

It is difficult to pinpoint with precision when the affectionate usage of that term for the team’s general manager hit the mainstream among Steelers Nation (or with Mike Tomlin). The best guess, though, had to be around the time of the first major transaction of the Khan regime.

On Nov. 1, 2022, the Steelers got a second-round draft pick back from the Chicago Bears in exchange for receiver Chase Claypool. That pick ended up at the top of the second round, and the Steelers used it on future starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Meanwhile, in the 32 months since that deal, Claypool has a grand total of 22 catches. Claypool, 26, is out of football.

The Claypool trade is arguably the biggest “hit” of Khan’s 38 months in charge of the Steelers’ football operations. Like all NFL general managers, he has had his swings and misses, too. And how the first three years of Khan’s tenure are evaluated probably depends on how the trajectory of the Steelers’ franchise as a whole is evaluated.

Khan, 48, on Thursday signed a three-year extension to remain as the Steelers general manager through 2028.

In terms of overall record, the Steelers under Khan have maintained their two-decades-long streak of non-losing seasons. But they, likewise, have extended their streak of seasons without a playoff win (since 2016).

Only eight of the NFL’s other 31 teams can join the Steelers — under Khan — as having a winning record each of the past three seasons.

But while 14 other franchises have won at least one playoff game and 13 have at least one division title since 2022, the Steelers under Khan have droughts dating to 2016 (for postseason victories) and 2020 (for AFC North crowns).

With Khan’s fourth season at the helm on the cusp, 77 of the 90 players on the training-camp roster were acquired by him. That includes — depending on how it is defined — 16 of the 22 projected starters on offense and defense.

Whatever legacy former general manager Kevin Colbert maintains in the composition of the Steelers of 2025 and going forward, this is now unambiguously a team in the image of Colbert’s former deputy (Khan) and Khan’s assistant Andy Weidl.

Khan’s most recent major deal is arguably the most consequential he has made in regards to the impact on the roster: shipping off three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (and marginal late-round draft compensation) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramey and tight end Jonnu Smith.

The deal, in some ways, diminishes Khan’s record in that Fitzpatrick was his first major signing, one that made Fitzpatrick the highest-paid safety in NFL history in June 2022.

Other players who received multi-year extensions under Khan’s watch as GM have delivered mixed results: outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (2023), receiver Diontae Johnson (2022) and safety DeShon Elliott (late last month).

Khan’s notable free-agent signings have included guard Isaac Seumalo (2023), Ogunjobi (2022), cornerback Patrick Peterson (2023), Elliott (2024), quarterback Aaron Rodgers (2025) and inside linebackers Patrick Queen (2024), Cole Holcomb (2023) and Elandon Roberts (2023).

He later dealt away Johnson, netting a one-year starter at cornerback in Donte Jackson.

In regards to Khan’s draft record — though the jury is still out on the initial first-round pick of Khan’s regime, tackle Broderick Jones — on the whole, the 2023 draft has proven fruitful from top to bottom: Porter, defensive tackle Keeanu Benton, tight end Darnell Washington, outside linebacker Nick Herbig, cornerback Cory Trice and reserve offensive lineman Spencer Anderson.

Last year’s draft haul netted three rookie starters on the O-line: first-round tackle Troy Fautanu, second-round center Zach Frazier and fourth-round guard Mason McCormick. Third-round linebacker Payton Wilson has the look of a player poised for a breakout season.

The biggest strikes against Khan have been his inability to find stability at quarterback and wide receiver. Rodgers will be the Steelers’ sixth starting quarterback since Khan was promoted to GM. And after cycling though Claypool, Johnson, George Pickens and a host of depth wide receivers, questions remain about the WR2 through WR4 positions in 2025, just as they remained an issue throughout 2024.

There’s a significant portion of the Steelers fanbase that touts their GM as “The Khan Artist.”

Others call him, well, just a con.

The truth probably lies in the middle, but there are plenty of general managers out there who would sign up for Khan’s first three-plus years on the job.