Texans General Manager News: Houston Interviews Pittsburgh Steelers VP Omar Khan

Back in the 1970s, the Pittsburgh Steelers set the standard for building rosters from within. From 1969 to 1974, the Steelers drafted nine future Hall of Famers. While they’ve not duplicated that run of stellar homegrown players recently, the mindset of player development has led to Pittsburgh’s tie with the New England Patriots for most Super Bowl wins (6) and second to the Patriots with eight Super Bowl appearances.

Enter Omar Khan.

PFT:

The Houston Texans announced Monday night that they had conducted an interview with Pittsburgh Steelers Vice President of Football and Business Administration Omar Khan for the General Manager job.

Khan has been a part of the Steelers front office since 2001. He spent 10 years as the team’s Football Administration Coordinator before being promoted to Director of Football Administration in 2011. His title then became Vice President of Football and Business Administration in 2016.

Khan has been a part of previous G.M. searches for the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks but has remained with the Steelers throughout.

He got his start in the NFL with the personnel department of the New Orleans Saints in 1997 after being an assistant for the football team at Tulane.

Khan, a New Orleans native, graduated from Tulane majoring in Sports Management with a. minor in Business Administration. He got his NFL break as a scouting intern for the New Orleans Saints, credited with helping them build their Super Bowl rosters before he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2001. In 2011, Khan was elevated to the role of Director of Football Operations before his next promotion in 2016 to Vice President of Football & Business Administration. which is his current title in the Iron City.

Of all the names so far bandied about as possible Houston Texans general managers, Khan seems like the best option to me, or at least the one most widely endorsed by the football writing pantheon. He has a track record of success, no ties to the New England Patriots, and could immediately alleviate the need for Jack Easterby to remain at NRG Park. The “Patriots South” thing hasn’t worked, so why not try to pull in some DNA from the other NFL franchise with the most Lombardi Trophies?

Unfortunately, while Cal McNair may want Khan, the Steelers have future plans for him as well.

Trib Total Media:

Khan is believed to be a candidate for the Steelers’ GM job once Kevin Colbert retires. Colbert has been working on a year-to-year basis with his contract expiring after the NFL Draft.

Imagine a guy who can bring the dynamic roster that’s surrounded Ben Roethlisberger for his whole career doing the same for Deshaun Watson.

Yes, please.