Omar Khan appears to be winning over the team with trust

Published July 28th 5:09 EDT
by Bo Marchionte

Latrobe, PA – There were several routes to take in picking a description of the meaning behind the name Omar. It just happens to be the name of current and first-year Steelers GM Omar Khan. The biblical meaning mentioned “eloquent” and the Arabic version said “flourishing” which in a roundabout way could describe him.

However, the spiritual version captured best what the name Omar means in conjunction to his current job title with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Esoteric meaning of the name Omar: From an esoteric perspective, the name Omar represents the spiritual path of discipline and commitment.

Surely discipline and commitment are top qualities in the realm of being top dog in an NFL organization. Especially for a franchise with the history and lineage of the Steelers. The other side of Omar is a personality that leaves people and players feeling a welcomed sense of comradery.

Each opportunity to be around Omar, we learn a little bit more about him and what makes him tick. What excites him and most likely what annoys him most about being a GM in the National Football League.

Training camp days are long. As a runner I aim to get my miles bright and early on the days where training camp follows. Interviews then on to practice with lunch and dinner squeezed in between makes a cold beer at Sharky’s Café a nice way to end a fulfilling day of football.

It was never out of the sorts to see former Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert walking before the campus would awaken to media, fans, and the team getting straight away to practice.

Now it’s first year GM and part of the Steelers football administration team since 2001, Omar Khan’s turn to walk St. Vincent College before the chaos and busy schedules of training camp set siege on the entire day.

“I’ve got to work off some of these meals,” Khan joked about his waistline. “I had during a break here, I went for a walk today, and I was amazed. It was probably like 7:30 this morning, and there were already cars lined up to come into the parking lot, and I just couldn’t believe it.”

Now it’s Omar I might see walking behind Rooney Hall around the bend in front of Bonaventure Hall towards Gerard Hall. The Steelers are built on tradition and here is a tiny example of how the transition from Colbert to Khan remains relatively the same.

His personality comes across as harmonious, which is something the players have noticed and more importantly respect. Khan is genuine and it’s easy to see while he is calculated to the task there is a tranquil aspect of his personality that reverberates with the players.

“I would say Omar is definitely one of the more approachable ones I’ve been around,” second-year Steelers quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said. “Brandon Bean was awesome in Buffalo as well. Ryan Pace (Chicago) was also good.

“As a GM you have got to be personable. I think there is a feel to that job where the more personable you are, the more comfortable players will be to come up to you and have conversations. Like real conversation about family and things outside of football.

Once you feel more comfortable you have that trust. So, it’s just a good thing to have. I think it says a lot about Omar that a lot of guys on this team would be able to go up to him about pretty much anything. He’s a great guy to have.”

That is an important component for a GM to possess that players get a sense of comfort and honesty in their actions. It can help the player sleep better at night knowing the guy calling the shots is transparent in his actions.

Khan showed that transparency on the eve of training camp. Sharing how seeing the fans lined up early in the morning stirred up his emotions about a passionate fan base. Seeing cars lined up shortly after dawn did not go unnoticed. It amped up the goal for the Steelers to visit the Super Bowl for the ninth time and win their seventh Super Bowl.

“It just means so much to these people,” Khan stated at his debut press conference at St. Vincent College officially as the GM. “I owe it to them to do everything I can in my power to not only help bring a championship to this organization but to our fan base. They’re so loyal to us, and they’ve been great with me, and I’ve been here, what, 23 years. Just that passion is second to none.”

It wasn’t so much Khan’s refusal to elaborate more of my question but my inability to word it right when asking him – Are you a player’s GM?

“You know, that’s a tough question there,” Khan replied. “I mean, I am who I am. I try to get along with everyone. I try to be up front with everyone. We’ll see where that takes me.”

Camp is so much about the bonding and unity created by the team being secluded from society for the most part. It’s something linebacker Cole Holcomb referenced a couple times on day one of camp the luxury of “zero distractions.” It’s nothing but football combined with the comradery of teammates getting to really know one another.

“Yeah, you just walk over into a dorm into somebody else’s room,” Holcomb said. “Someone is playing cards. Shoot they go board games they got NHL, FIFA and all that. It’s good team bonding.”

Khan stated at his inaugural press conference during his podium visit at the NFL Combine that he does sense a little different reaction from some of the younger players on the roster due to his new title as General Manager.

“The players, I’d say the young guys,” Khan said. “The rookies coming in, yeah, the younger guys look at me a little differently. Getting the “yes, sir,” and “no, sir,” that’s a little weird for me. I’ve had to get adjusted to that.”

I was curious to learn if Khan could let his guard down enough and mingle with the team. It’s part of the General Manager process that I simply didn’t know much about and wanted to know. Can GM’s throw down in a game of dominos with the guys.

“I haven’t been asked yet to participate in those games,” Khan said. “So, I’m not sure if someone challenges me at Uno, I would turn that down, or checkers. I would probably say yes, I’ll come in if they ask, I’m happy to play.”

Trubisky was a little surprised when told that Omar would gladly accept an invite and hangout. Khan would not run from the opportunity to share in the bonding process with the team. After all Khan is just 46 years old, and surely should hold the street cred to hang with a generation of players a few decades his junior. 

“Oh, he would,” Trubisky replied to Omar’s willingness if requested to sit in with the players for some board game activities. “I don’t know if every spot has actually done that (Chicago, Buffalo and Pittsburgh). I know GMs are very very busy. We don’t even know all that goes into their job.”

Regardless of if Omar spends a night or two hanging out with the players or his schedule of helping run the Steelers organization requires too much of his time. He has demonstrated in a short amount of time in his new role as GM he is more than calculations and X’s and O’s. He is generally a good man.

“Omar has been great, and he is so personable,” Mason Cole said after morning practice. “Since I’ve gotten here it’s been an open-door policy with whoever you want. Coach Tomlin. The front office. Position coaches. (Matt) Canada. It’s super open and you will always know where you stand here. It’s what I appreciate a lot about this place.