Omar Khan makes NFL Combine debut as Steelers GM
Published February 22, 2:44 EDT
by Bo Marchionte
Indianapolis – Kevin Colbert retired shortly after the NFL Draft last season to enjoy life after football. The Steelers General Manager for over two-decades successor Omar Khan made his debut at the 2023 NFL Combine with the official title of GM.
That title has brought some changes for Khan.
“Yes, sir or no sir,” Khan laughed are more commonly used when younger players or rookies address him under his new title. Some light modifications to Colbert’s office which he now calls his own leaves Khan with little change under the title as General Manager.
Other than that Khan feels like somethings have never changed. He worked with Colbert for son long that his new title hasn’t overwhelmed him with things out of his control.
“Yeah, we text periodically; we actually texted yesterday about a couple things,” Khan said about his relationship with Colbert. “We talk all the time… have a lot of communication. I have a lot of respect for Kevin and learned some great things from Kevin and that’s not going away.”
Khan said he might be a little more ‘aggressive’ when it comes to certain things surrounding the game, but his passion for the off-season is something that I fondly took to heart.
“Personally, it’s an opportunity to see guys compete against each other against some of their peers,” Khan stated about being at the Senior Bowl a few weeks earlier. “It’s invaluable for us.”
Khan spoke about the importance of the all-star game especially as the team aimed to narrow it’s search for quarterback last year. The chance to study Kenny Pickett served the team immensely.
‘We had the opportunity to evaluate him (Pickett) against some other quarterbacks,” Khan said. “The top quarterbacks that where there at the Senior Bowl.”
The NFL Combine doesn’t see the on-field competition but allows teams inner act with all prospects. The all-star games are for seniors or players who reach that eligibility to play. In Indianapolis the Combine has 319 prospects Pittsburgh can inner act with and get to know. “
“I can’t speak for every GM but I can tell you for me it’s an opportunity to get to know these guys a lot better as people,” Khan said. “In the interviews and get these guys one-on-one and get to know them. Get a feel for who they are. Just getting to know them and type of player and person we want as part of our organization.”
Every opportunity counts in the draft process. Khan recognizes the importance of having boots on the ground and maximizing the venues that can serve to know a prospect better both on and off the field.