Thursday, February 13, 2025, 10:27PM |  33°
MENU
Advertisement
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.
1
MORE

GM Omar Khan has had historic free agency period while remaking Steelers roster

AP

GM Omar Khan has had historic free agency period while remaking Steelers roster

The Steelers might not be done signing free agents, but it’s already been their busiest free agent period since the advent of NFL free agency in 1993.

The Steelers so far have signed eight outside free agents as general manager Omar Khan retools the roster in his first season in the big chair. Khan has overhauled his linebacker room and half of his secondary while also reshaping the interior of his offensive line.

Last year’s starting inside linebackers — Devin Bush, Robert Spillane and Myles Jack are out — replaced by Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. In the defensive backfield, cornerback Cam Sutton and safety Terrell Edmunds are gone, and veterans Patrick Peterson and Keanu Neal are in. In addition, Breiden Fehoko was signed to compete with Montravius Adams at nose tackle.

Advertisement

Khan wasn’t afraid to tinker with the offensive line, either. He signed guard Isaac Seumalo to be a starter and added Nate Herbig and Le’Raven Clark as depth players while J.C. Hassenauer, Jesse Davis and Trenton Scott — the top three reserves last season — were not re-signed.

Oregon defensive back Christian Gonzalez (0) warms up before an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Boulder, Colo.
Ray Fittipaldo
Highly touted defenders Christian Gonzalez, Keion White among college prospects visiting Steelers

Khan putting his own stamp on the roster shouldn’t come as a big surprise. After succeeding Tom Donahoe in 2000, Kevin Colbert signed five free agents in his first year on the job, a number he did not exceed until his final year on the job. (The Steelers signed seven outside free agents last year, but Khan signed Larry Ogunjobi in the summer after he was named GM.)

Colbert signed defensive linemen Kimo von Oelhoffen and Chris Sullivan, offensive lineman Rich Tylski, quarterback Kent Graham and safety Brent Alexander shortly after he was hired.

Of those five signings, two became key pieces in Colbert’s rebuild. Von Oelhoffen was a starter for six seasons and Alexander four. The following spring, Colbert signed Jeff Hartings, who started at center for the next six seasons.

Advertisement

Colbert drafted four more starters in his first two drafts — receiver Plaxico Burress and tackle Marvel Smith in 2000 and nose tackle Casey Hampton and linebacker Kendrell Bell in 2001. In two years, Colbert added seven starters through either free agency or the draft, and they were integral in the team’s turnaround.

Von Oelhoffen, Hartings, Hampton and Smith were starters on the Super Bowl XL team. Hampton and Smith also started on the Super Bowl XLIII team, though Smith suffered a season-ending injury in October and did not play in the playoffs.

Colbert took over in 2000 after Donahoe lost a power struggle with head coach Bill Cowher. Khan took the reins after Colbert decided to retire, but there are some similar circumstances.

The Steelers missed the playoffs two years in a row before Colbert took over and hadn’t won a Super Bowl in 20 years. The Steelers missed the playoffs in three of the final five years under Colbert, and the team is currently in its longest playoff victory drought (six years) since the NFL merger in 1970. It’s been 14 years since the Steelers won a Super Bowl.

Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson warms up in front of George Pickens during practice Sept. 20, 2022, at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Brian Batko
Brian Batko's Steelers mailbag: How high on the draft priority list is wide receiver?

Kahn’s assistant general manager is Andy Weidl, who coincidentally was hired by Donahoe in 1998 and worked for the Steelers for two years. (He departed for a job with the Saints before Colbert was hired.)

Weidl, who worked in Philadelphia’s front office from 2016-21, had a big hand in the Steelers signing Seumalo, Herbig and Clark, all former Eagles. He’s a big believer in building rosters from the inside-out.

It remains to be seen how many players in this year’s free agent class are long-term starters. Khan and Weidl also have seven picks, including four in the top 80, in a deep draft.

They’ve already begun to transform the roster, and they’ll have ample opportunity later this month to obtain players they hope will be part of a turnaround. It took Colbert only two years to have the Steelers back in the AFC championship game and six years before he delivered a Lombardi Trophy.

Khan and Weidl haven’t been shy about implementing new ideas and making changes. Time will tell if they can deliver, too.

Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.

First Published: April 5, 2023, 12:00 p.m.

RELATED
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell (31) gets set for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska on Nov. 25, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa.
Adam Bittner
Steelers mock draft tracker: Could Jack Campbell be the LB the Steelers need?
Baylor defensive lineman Siaki Ika runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine March 2 in Indianapolis.
Brian Batko
Steelers host 3 massive linemen and another cornerback for pre-draft visits
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett stands next to offensive coordinator Matt Canada during rookie minicamp, Friday, May 13, 2022, at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
WATCH: Could new Steelers assistant Glenn Thomas eventually replace Matt Canada?
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) is tackled by Cleveland Browns linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023.
Ray Fittipaldo
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat transcript: 04.04.23
Jack Suwinski of the Pittsburgh Pirates catches a fly ball during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 03, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Joe Starkey
Joe Starkey's mailbag: When will the Pirates challenge for a playoff spot?
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) attempts to avoid the tackle of Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Brian Batko
Brian Batko's Steelers chat transcript: 04.03.23
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, center, and Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, right, watch football drills during Georgia's Pro Day, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Athens, Ga.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
WATCH: Could Steelers trade up in NFL draft? And what should we make of the latest top 30 visits?
SHOW COMMENTS (38)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
A cutout batter sits in the bullpen at Pirate City, the spring training facility of the Pittsburgh Pirates, during a spring training baseball workout in Bradenton, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.
1
sports
Joe Starkey: Bad news Pirates outdid themselves on Day 1
The administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro -- shown last week delivering the annual budget address -- on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over the freeze of federal funding. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
2
news
Gov. Shapiro and Pa. agencies sue federal government over Trump administration funding freeze
Hockey legend Mario Lemieux hands Canada forward Sidney Crosby a commemorative banner prior to the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action against Sweden in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.
3
sports
Jason Mackey: Fenway Sports Group's tepid relationship with Mario Lemieux must improve
Salem’s Market beat out three other finalists in 2021 for the right to operate the Hill District store.
4
business
Hill District Salem's Market halting operations one year after opening
Competitors in the Flagship Ice Open wait to get started in the predawn darkness on Feb. 1. The event drew 51 two-person teams.
5
life
Lake Erie ice fishing tournament pulls in over 100 anglers and a 2.17-pound yellow perch
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.  (AP)
AP
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story