The Pittsburgh Steelers interviewed three additional general manager candidates at the Senior Bowl all-star game in Mobile, Alabama. Current GM Kevin Colbert is planning to retire. They interviewed Indianapolis Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds, who previously interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears’ general manager positions. Steelers owner and team president Art Rooney II also interviewed Los Angeles Chargers director of player personnel JoJo Wooden and Tennessee Titans vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden.
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Pittsburgh Steelers interview three general manager candidates
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is involved in the Steelers’ search for a replacement for the retiring Colbert. Colbert is a Pittsburgh native, one of the most respected general managers in the NFL, and an instrumental part of the Steelers’ 15 consecutive winning seasons under Tomlin.
Kevin Colbert plans to retire after the NFL Draft
So, the Steelers are making plans. They also have two strong internal candidates.
The Steelers interviewed pro scouting coordinator Brandon Hunt and vice president of football and business administration and top negotiator Omar Khan.
The Steelers are unlikely to make an official hire until after the NFL Draft.
Colbert had declined multi-year contract extensions for the past few years. He preferred to go forward on a year-to-year basis as he eyed his retirement. Colbert has drafted several top players, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is also retiring, along with Troy Polamalu, Alan Faneca, and several others.
“We have left the door open, Kevin and I, to possibly have him fill an ongoing role after the draft,” Rooney said last week. “We will be conducting a search for a new GM starting immediately. Probably won’t make a hire until after the draft. We will be interviewing people. We’ve already interviewed two of our in-house candidates: Omar Khan and Brandon Hunt.”
Mike Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension last year
Rooney doesn’t anticipate Tomlin’s role changing regardless of who’s running the personnel department.
“I don’t expect to make dramatic changes in terms of those responsibilities, coach versus GM,” Rooney said. “I think it’s worked well, and we’re not really trying to make a big change there.”