Kevin Colbert isn’t exactly easing into his impending exit as Pittsburgh Steelers general manager.

Colbert revealed Monday during an interview with reporters that he is involved with helping team president Art Rooney II find his successor.

“Art and myself are conducting the interviews,” Colbert said. “Art hasn’t been through this process in 22 years.”

Rooney hadn’t yet ascended to the team president role when Colbert was hired in 2000. Rooney wouldn’t replace his father as chief decision maker with the Steelers until 2003.

“My role is (to) provide him with people we think are potential replacements,” Colbert said.

Under Colbert’s stewardship, the Steelers have won two Super Bowl titles and appeared in a third championship game. The Steelers, however, haven’t been to the Super Bowl in more than a decade.

The Steelers began the process by interviewing in-house candidates Omar Khan and Brandon Hunt. At the Senior Bowl, the Steelers interviewed Ryan Cowden of the Tennessee Titans, Ed Dodds of the Indianapolis Colts and JoJo Wooden of the Los Angeles Chargers. On Friday, the organization confirmed interviews with John Wojciechowski of the Green Bay Packers, Morocco Brown of the Colts, Dan Morgan of the Carolina Panthers and John Spytek of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Colbert said the Steelers are trying to wrap up the initial round of interviews before March 1 when teams can deny permission for any employee under contract to be interviewed.

Colbert said the second round of interviews will be held after the draft, which will be held in late April. Coach Mike Tomlin will join the interview process at that point, Colbert said.

“We have two great internal candidates,” Colbert said. “There are several guys outside of our organization that are very qualified. … There are a lot of capable people.”

As for his role with the organization after his contract expires, Colbert remains hopeful he can be of assistance.

“I’m not going to use the word retirement,” he said. “I may or may not have a role. … If there is a way I can help and not hinder the next person, we are going to be open to that. Nothing has been decided or will it be until we get through the interview process.”

Colbert said he met with Rooney and Tomlin last May to inform them he would be stepping aside after this year’s draft.

“We think it’s time,” he said. “It’s time from a personal standpoint, and I think it’s time from a professional standpoint. We always have to be open to new ways of doing things and more current ways of doing things. I encourage our young scouts to push me in that regards. The better solution may be outside the organization. We don’t know.”

Rooney has stated publicly he would like Colbert’s successor to be able to organize the draft board and have a scouting and player development background, which fits Hunt’s job description.

“I try to fit the people I recommend with that criteria in mind,” Rooney said. “It’s always been a football-type of role from an evaluation standpoint. I think that is what he is comfortable with, and I know that is what coach Tomlin is comfortable with.”

Asked whether Rooney could decide to split the job duties between Hunt and Khan, Colbert said, “I think he’s open to anything.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)