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Steelers announce Omar Khan as new GM

The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced Omar Khan, the team's vice president of football and business administration, as their new general manager on Wednesday. Khan is replacing Kevin Colbert, who stepped down earlier in the offseason after over two decades as GM.

The Steelers haven't had a new GM since the year 2000, but Khan is a familiar face. He's been with the organization almost as long as Colbert had been, joining the team in 2001. Before that, he broke into the NFL in 1997, taking a job in the New Orleans Saints' football operations department. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Khan has spent years being "groomed" to take over for Colbert.

New era for Steelers?

NFL.com reported that Khan's main focus as VP had been on contracts and negotiations, which is a switch from Colbert, who was great at finding talent. To address that hole in Khan's expertise, the Steelers are also reportedly hiring Andy Weidl to be Khan's assistant GM. Weidl, a Pittsburgh native, is being hired away from the Philadelphia Eagles where he served as VP of player personnel.

Colbert's eye for talent helped the Steelers achieve great things. He drafted seven All-Pros and built dominant rosters that won two Super Bowls, 10 division titles and a still-active 18-season winning streak. Colbert's legacy casts a huge shadow on the Steelers, and now Khan will step into the spotlight and try to put his stamp on the team. With franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger also retiring at the end of the 2021 season, the Steelers look like they're ready to start a new era.

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 6:  Omar Khan, Director of Football and Business Administration for the Pittsburgh Steelers, looks on from the sideline before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on December 6, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The Steelers defeated the Colts 45-10. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
The Steelers have promoted internal candidate Omar Khan to replace longtime GM Kevin Colbert. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) (George Gojkovich via Getty Images)