Opinion: It’s too early to give Omar Khan his flowers

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The Steelers GM hasn’t been afraid to break organizational norms. But will it lead to more wins?

With a freshly signed contract in hand, Steelers GM Omar Khan is set to remain with the Steelers through at least 2028. Khan has agreed to a three-year extension, which was announced by the Steelers’ website.

In a news release, Steelers president Art Rooney II spoke about the extension:

“I am excited to announce we have signed Omar to a new three-year contract. Omar and his team have done a great job over the past three years in constructing our roster through the NFL Draft, strategic trades, and free agency. We look forward to continuing that trend that will lead to even more success on the field.”

But what success, exactly, is he building on?

The Steelers still haven’t won a playoff game in the three years under his watch. Granted, he was stuck with QB Kenny Pickett for a while after former GM Kevin Colbert selected the Pitt signal-caller in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, then promptly rode off into the sunset of retirement. Still, do Khan and HC Mike Tomlin get a pass for sticking with Pickett — and later Mitch Trubisky — as long as they did? Additionally, do Khan and Tomlin not deserve any criticism for keeping OC Matt Canada in the fold when it was clear he didn’t have the answers for improving their offense or their struggling young signal caller?

In recent months, Khan has received a barrage of praise for his aggressiveness, but it hasn’t always translated into results. Last season, he brought in QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, and the team ultimately fell short as both sides of the ball cratered during the final month of the season. This season, they are relying on 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to take them where they want to go, seemingly signaling an “all-in” approach. But how realistic are their title chances when the solution they came up with is trotting out aging veterans like CBs Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey?

Khan has been in the Steelers organization for 20 years and was groomed to replace longtime GM Kevin Colbert.

Colbert served as the Steelers’ GM for over 20 years and led the team to three Super Bowl appearances, including two wins. Of course, you could say that he was carried to a degree by QB Ben Roethlisberger, an eventual first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he’s also responsible for drafting some of the greatest players in NFL history — a list that includes S Troy Polamalu, G Alan Faneca, and WR Antonio Brown, not to mention signing an undrafted, undersized, and unheralded edge rusher named James Harrison.

It’s also fair to point out that Colbert’s responsible for some of the worst picks in team history, many coming as his career was nearing its end.

Anytime I see or read Colbert being discussed, it’s generally in a negative light. I don’t necessarily think that’s fair. Just because Khan is aggressive doesn’t make him a better leading man.

If the Steelers don’t win a playoff game this season, the criticism of Khan should grow louder. This is his team now, for better and worse. And while it’s refreshing he’s shown he isn’t afraid to shake things up with the Steelers’ roster, that doesn’t exactly make him general manager of the year unless the moves pay off with more playoff success.

Maybe Colbert set the Steelers back. But Omar Khan has yet to move them forward.