Hiring Omar Khan could signal paradigm shift in way Steelers do business

The Steelers have completed the interview process for the new General Manager, and it is a familiar face who will be taking the reins

With the recent announcement by the Steelers that Omar Khan has been named as the new General Manager, my immediate thought was this:  I’m glad we decided to stay in-house, but I’m also glad we interviewed outside candidates as well.

Considering that Khan has been with the organization for twenty-one years, you could argue that it was a foregone conclusion that he would be named as the successor to Kevin Colbert.  The one thing the Steelers are known for is consistency.

Since 1969, we have had three head coaches.  Our current head coach, Mike Tomlin, has been steering the ship, as it were, since 2007.  Since 2000, we had one GM, the aforementioned Colbert.  I think it’s fair to say that the Steelers are nothing if not consistent and somewhat predictable.

The Steelers may see a change in the way we conduct business under Omar Khan

When I said that I think it’s fair to say that the Steelers are nothing if not consistent and somewhat predictable, I did not mean that in a disparaging way.  Consistency and predictability are not necessarily bad qualities to have.

So, what will we see under Khan in terms of how we conduct business? I think that’s the ‘sixty-four thousand dollar question’ one that cannot be answered right now.  I believe that answer will begin to materialize after the 2022 season has concluded.

I think the first ‘test’ will come with free agency.  Given Khan’s background as the ‘capologist’, so to speak, will we see a more analytical approach to free agency? We will continue to sign players to ‘team-friendly’ contracts, which I think we should, or will we ‘swing for the fences’ and try to sign a top-tier free agent?

I think the second ‘test’ will come during the draft process.  How much say will Khan have in who we draft and in what round we draft a player?  For example, will he be willing to trade up for a player that Tomlin may be high on but who may not be available in a later round?

Will Khan draft for need or draft the best player available?  Will Khan even have the final say in who we draft?  I don’t think it’s a secret that the Steelers have a collaborative approach when it comes to the draft, but being a new GM, how much sway will Khan have?

I certainly don’t think he would be able to overrule Art Rooney II, for example, but I suspect Colbert was not able to do that either, so at least in that respect, nothing may change.  Another question that came to mind is this:  How will Khan manage his staff while trying to acclimate himself to his new role?  Will that cause a disruption in the natural flow of business in the front office?

I don’t suspect there will be any major disruptions, but you never know.  Khan may approach his new role with the viewpoint of not wanting to ‘upset the apple cart’ or he may want to shake things up a bit.  Again, we won’t know what the approach will be until we see it in action, so to speak.

In other words, Steelers fans probably won’t know what to expect from Khan until things matter, like free agency, and like the draft.  Right now, there are more questions than answers.  All we know is that either the way the Steelers do business will change or it will not change.  Whatever happens, I think Khan will put a stamp on his tenure as the Steelers General Manager.