1-on-1: Omar Khan - May 27, 2022

1-on-1: Omar Khan - May 27, 2022

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Oh, our first fall. Congratulations. UM, take me through what
was the interview process like find and then finding out
that you are the general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I've been through this process a few times in other places,
so I kind of knew what to expect. Um. I'm
always grateful just to be involved in the conversation. That's
the important part of this. And you know, Art Art

(00:20):
called me in and said he wanted to meet in
his office, and you know, he offered me a job.
I app said yes, absolutely, of course, and uh so
excited and his dream come true for me. I'm sure
it's surreal. But now you kind of have to jump
in as the GM and start the process. So what
is what is the things you want to accomplish before
you get to training camp and building a staff and
all the things that come with a new title and job.

(00:42):
I think the number one for me right now is
just putting my staff together. You know, that's a fluid
process and continues, and you know, I'm really excited about
the ninety men we have in that locker room, and
I think we have a great future with that group. Obviously,
if there's an opportunity to improve in certain areas we will,
But I'd say right now, putting my staff together is
is number one for me. You've worked very closely with

(01:05):
head coach Mike Tomlin. Does your relationship have to change
at all now that you are the GM or does
it stay the same. It stays the same, my kid
or not and I have known each other for I
think it's sixteen years now, and we have a great
relationship and that makes that makes us this job fun.
Replacing Kevin Colbert here for over two decades, we all
know you know what he was able to accomplish here.
Is there pressure with that? You know? I wouldn't say

(01:27):
there's pressure. I mean, you don't really replace Kevin. You know,
Kevin and I've been together for over twenty years. Um,
I've learned so much from him. Um, he's great lessons
and I'm really just gonna build and when he has
taught me and then put some ideas that I have
in place that I think will help us out and
just move forward. What's something that you learned from Kevin
that you'll kind of keep with you over your time

(01:49):
working with him. Your approach here has always been, Uh,
you build around the draft, and that's not going to
change here. Obviously have some ideas and I'm gonna put
in place, but that approach and level change. The other
thing he always said is when Joe Green speaks, you listen,
and I'm always gonna remember that. Um, when in your career,
did you say, Okay, you know what I want to
be a GM? You've obviously interviewed before, but was there

(02:11):
like an aha moment for you? I've always drunk about
being being in the National Football League. I think the
moment was probably when I used to run around the
football field i played football. I realized I wasn't as
good as all the other guys on the field, so
I should probably transition to being a front office person
and not a football player. Is there someone that you
would say as a mentor and somebody that's really helped you,
you know, going back to when you started with the

(02:33):
Saints to now, you know, my my parents have always
been the biggest influence in my life. You know that
they've been my rock and to this day, the two
harts hardest working people I've ever met. So I'd say,
my parents. What do you think are some of the
qualities a successful GM has to have. That's a good question. UM,
I think you have to obviously be a good leader.
You have to be able to communicate. Listen, Delegate, UM,

(02:55):
there's lots of qualities, but UM, we could be here
forever talking, but those are some key ones in my opinion.
Doesn't mean for you personally, your family. You guys get
to stay in Pittsburgh. Your girls were born here. It's
a dream come true. And I've been here over twenty years.
I love this community. My wife's from Western Pennsylvania, my
kids were born here. Um, I've been part of the
Stealer Nation for over twenty years, and it's exciting to

(03:16):
know that I'm going to continue there. What do you
think about the two thousand two season and the team
that you guys have and knowing that there is a
lot of change, especially on the offense, it's exciting. You know,
we're we're very coach and I've talked about how how
confident we are on the team we've assembled here and
we think the future is bright. All right, now more,
thanks for your time. Thanks MISSI