Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan speak at a press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex before the NFL Draft on Sunday, April 19, 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Omar Khan has been in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ front office for a quarter century. Figuratively speaking, his voice is one of the loudest in the building in decision-making as the team’s general manager.
Prominent talking head Colin Cowherd has his doubts about Khan, who succeeded Kevin Colbert after he walked away in 2022. Khan began as the Steelers’ football operations coordinator from the time he was hired until 2011, when he was promoted to director of football administration. In 2016, Khan became the vice president of football and business administration.
Cowherd believes the fact that Khan stuck around so long and waited his turn is curious.
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan at a press conference to introduce head coach Mike McCarthy on Jan. 27, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
“I’ve always had this belief, John, that if you’re a really good coordinator, you’re not gonna stay anyplace for 10 years,” Cowherd told podcast guest John Middlekauff Monday on “The Colin Cowherd Podcast.” “And so Omar Khan was in the building for a long time. I think if you’re a real go-getter, I think you leave the building. And so I don’t look at the Steelers’ front office as elite. I just don’t.
“I think they played it safe with Mike McCarthy as a hire, who I don’t think is a disaster, but it’s a safe play. There’s a lot of reports they don’t wanna go backwards.”
Khan had worked alongside Mike Tomlin until the latter resigned in January. Khan played a part in going out to get McCarthy, whom veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers suggested could give a different perspective.
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