Even though the final years of his tenure included several draft misses, Kevin Colbert still left a strong legacy with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He drafted multiple Hall of Fame players and key contributors to Super Bowl championship teams. During his first 19 years as general manager, Colbert established the standard for building a consistent winner capable of competing for championships. Even four years after stepping down, one analyst believes his influence still defines the Steelers' roster.
Mike Renner discussed Colbert's lasting impact on his Pushing the Pile Podcast:
“They have not gotten a darn thing out of those guys they’ve taken highly," Renner said. "When you look at this roster, it’s 37-year-old Cam Heyward, 32-year-old T.J. Watt … Kevin Colbert, this is basically still his team, and he hasn’t been the GM in four years.”
Colbert's legacy is Hall of Fame worthy
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Although Renner was largely taking a shot at current general manager Omar Khan, he also underscored the lasting impact of Colbert's tenure. The continued excellence of veterans like Heyward and Watt speaks to the quality of Colbert's roster construction. His contributions to both the Steelers and the NFL make a compelling Hall of Fame case when he becomes eligible.
During Colbert's tenure, the Steelers compiled a 226-124-3 regular-season record and a 15-12 postseason record. The teams he built reached three Super Bowls and won two championships. Much of that success stemmed from his commitment to selecting the best player available in the NFL Draft rather than drafting solely to address immediate needs. When he moved away from that philosophy late in his career, the results showed why his original approach had been so successful.
Steelers must learn from Colbert's legacy
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The Steelers should learn from both Colbert's successes and his shortcomings. As mentioned, the latter part of his tenure featured a shift in philosophy as he attempted to maximize a narrowing championship window. Unlike the Los Angeles Rams' aggressive strategy of acquiring established veterans, Colbert tried to accomplish that goal primarily through the draft. Those selections ultimately failed to deliver the expected results.
However, the scouting philosophy that guided most of Colbert's tenure remains a proven blueprint for success. Khan has largely returned to that approach, helping produce a strong run of draft classes. The 2023 draft class has already become the first in years to produce multiple players who have earned long-term extensions. While the closing years of the Colbert era are easy to focus on, they should not overshadow the exceptional work he produced over the previous two decades. The blueprint for building a Super Bowl contender still exists. It simply requires refinement, as Khan has demonstrated through his approach to free agency and the trade market.
