1-on-1: Art Rooney II - January 28, 2022

1-on-1: Art Rooney II - January 28, 2022

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Are looking back now there were a few weeks removed
from the two thousand and twenty one season, exiting in
the wild card round, but getting into the playoffs. How
do you kind of sum up with that season? Was like, well,
it was a season full of a lot of ups
and downs and unusual games. Uh. Certainly some games that

(00:23):
you know, we we won or had a chance to
win at the end, which made for exciting games and
and put people and uh, you know, tested their cardiac conditioning.
I think in terms of our fans some games. But
I think by and large I appreciated the fact that
you know, in every game and really throughout the season,

(00:43):
we we kept fighting till the end and and uh,
you know, fought our way into the playoffs there the
last few weeks of the season, which you know was
was great and uh and then obviously the you know,
the playoff game was disappointing. And so you know, we
know we have a lot of work to do and
uh want to be able to take that next step.

(01:03):
We know, without saying the Super Bowl is always the
goal for this team each and every year, but five
years without a playoff win, how do you sort of
digest that as you're moving forward to prepping for the
two thousand and twenty two season. Well, we we know
we have work to do. Uh. Certainly we have some
young players on on the roster that we feel good

(01:24):
about the future. And uh and and now we enter
a new chapter in terms of we we will have
a new quarterback next year and so uh, you know,
we've got to work hard to put all the pieces
together around the new quarterback and make sure that that
we put the put everybody in the best position to
win and compete for a championship before we talk about

(01:48):
finding that next quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger made it official on
Thursday this week about his retirement. Knowing those last few games,
just the special moment at Hinz Field against the Browns,
how do you sort of take in his final ride
per se with the Steelers organization and just what he's
meant to this team. You know, it was it was

(02:08):
quite a quite a finish in terms of those last
few games. That that last home game was something very
special and you know, something I'll never forget and and
certainly something Ben will never forget in terms of the uh,
you know, the outpoint of affection and love that our
fans showed him. Uh, you know, it was very really
a special night. And uh and even bald in Baltimore

(02:31):
that last Sunday. Uh, you know, there were so many
fans in the stands with signs. Was a little unusual
to see that in Baltimore, to be honest with you.
So it was it was it was special and Ben
deserved it, and uh so I was. I was really
happy to see some of those things happen. Coach Tomlin
said in his season ending press conference he's looking forward

(02:53):
to the challenge of finding the team's next franchise quarterback.
How was that process organizationally going to work, because you
guys start preparing for all the different things that could
potentially happen. Well, number one, you know, we're not going
to close any doors. Uh, and uh you know there's
uh there there will be different options that we've got
to evaluate. So really, just like any other position, you know,

(03:17):
we're we're gonna evaluate it and find the best person
for that for that position as we can, and uh,
it'll take a lot of work. And and then when
we get that person, we're gonna have to make sure
that the we developed that person at quarterback and and
put he and in the whole team in the best
position to win. Mason Rudolph has been Ben's back up
for a number of years. Dwayne Haskins new to the team.

(03:40):
What is your level of confidence in Mason Mason? Uh,
you know, has has a winning record as a quarterback
in this leg and uh, I think has performed well
when he's had the opportunity. I talked to him after
the season. I know he's looking forward to having the
opportunity to compete for for the starting job and uh

(04:00):
so it'll be exciting to see and and of course,
uh Dwayne Haskins as a as a young quarterback with
a you know, a lot of talent, and so we'll
see how he develops. Is trading for a veteran quarterback
something that you guys would keep on the table and consider.
You know, we're we're not going to close any doors
at this point. Um it's uh, you know it really

(04:23):
you have to evaluate, you know, what's it gonna cost
you to make a trade. And uh so, uh, you know,
those are things we'll look at if the if the
opportunity arises, and obviously be evaluating players in the draft,
so you know, it'll be a busy offseason. UH, coach
Tomlin and everyone in the building is now looking for
the Steelers do defensive coordinator after Keith Butler has retired.

(04:47):
How is that process going and when do you expect
a determination of who that guy will be? Uh? Coach
has interviewed some some good candidates, so, uh, you know,
I think we do have some some great candidates for
the job. And UH, I'm not gonna put a specific
time frame on it. I don't think it will take
too long. But but there's still some some candidates that

(05:10):
I know Coach wants to spend some time with. And UH,
so I think it's a you know, it's a good
process and and uh, you know, there's some good people
that have interviewed, including Tarrell Austin. In your mind, what
are the pros and cons of hiring from within or
from outside the organization for any job? You know, I

(05:31):
don't think, Missy, that we look to uh to sort
of have a narrow focus about trying to do one
or the other. I think comes down to finding the
right person for the job, and whether they're coming from
inside or out, it just comes down to evaluating who
can do the job best. Obviously, it's nice to promote
somebody from within and and so if that if that

(05:51):
makes sense, it's great. But at the end of the day,
you you have to put the best person in position,
and and so that's what we'll do. Last your art
when we had this conversation, you talked about improving the
run game. You guys drafted Naji Harris statistically improved slightly.
But what's next to take that hump and to get
the run game back to where you would consider it

(06:12):
Steelers appropriate. Well, I think number one, we were certainly
pleased with Nausea and and the development he had this year,
and and now we're going to be looking forward to
some ongoing development and the offensive line in terms of
some of the players that we're younger players this year,
so you know they're still work to do, no question

(06:33):
about it. But certainly feel good about Nausea and some
of our young offensive lineman and you know what what
that might bode for the future. Is there something else
specific you want to see improve this upcoming season? Well, Missy,
I think on the other side of the ball, at
times we didn't stop the run, and so you know,
those are the fundamentals I think you have to you

(06:56):
have to have to be successful regarding the ball on offense,
stopping the run defense. Uh. You know, if you if
you can't do those fundamentals, it's you know, it's hard
to do the rest and and so uh you know,
I would say those are key pieces of the puzzle
that we we continue to need to improve on. Kevin
Colbert has been going year to year where of things
currently stand with him and his role within this organization.

(07:20):
Kevin is gonna step down from his GM role after
the after the draft, and uh, you know, between now
and the draft, he'll be fulfilling his normal responsibility, but
we will be conducting a search for Kevin's replacement. Uh.
Kevin and I have had talks. We've left the door
open and he may have an ongoing role after the draft,

(07:42):
but but we will be filling the GM position, uh
at some point between now and shortly after the draft.
And uh, you know, there are there are a lot
of good candidates out there, including we've already interviewed Omar
Khan and Brandon Hunt, two of our internal candidates, and
and now will be uh you know, talk into some
external candidates as well. In terms of the salary cap

(08:04):
A completely different picture than where it was last season.
Knowing that you are going to have money to spend,
will you guys be more active in free agency? Well,
it's nice to to think we'll have, you know, a
little more room to maneuver and and hopefully we'll have
some opportunities to uh to fill some holes that way
this year. Uh and uh, you know it'll be it'll

(08:27):
be a little different. We won't be scrambling quite as
much to to fit under the cap, hopefully as as
maybe we have in the last few years. So that'll
be it'll be a different, uh, different part of the
journey in terms of steff onto it Following the lost
in Kansas City camp, Heyward was very emotional speaking about
him and what he's been through without going into those details.

(08:49):
Where does his role, his uh part of the team
stand at this point? You know, Missy, we'll we'll have
to have some conversations with Stefan here the near future
and really you know, decide what his role is if
any and uh so, I I can't really give you
any definitive answer on that right now. Last question for you,

(09:12):
make a Fitzpatrick somebody that you could have a new
deal with similar to t J. Watt last year. Is
that a top priority for the Steelers moving forward? Yes,
we uh we would like to extend mancas contract this
offseason and so that'll be an important piece of business
that hopefully we can get done before the season starts.
All right, Art, appreciate your time as always, Thank you

(09:34):
very much. Thanks great to be with you. Miss