The narrative going around social media about Kevin Colbert recently has been less than flattering. The former Steelers general manager has been taking hits for his perceived poor drafts over the past five years. Let’s take a look at the career of one the best general managers of his era to remind the ones who’ve forgotten:
The early years:
Kevin Colbert became the Pittsburgh Steelers general manager in 2000. The team had success under Bill Cowher before then, but could never get over the hump. Colbert took over and immediately started stocking the team with future Hall of Famers. In 2003 he traded up to select Troy Polamalu, then snagged Ike Taylor in the 4th round. Next came Ben Roehtlisberger in in 2004, and Heath Miller in 2005. All key cogs in Cowher’s one and only Super Bowl win. To summarize Colbert’s first five seasons that’s one Hall of Fame quarterback, one all time great at safety, and several other key pieces to the first Super Bowl win in 25 years for this franchise.
The Tomlin era begins:
Bill Cowher followed up the Super Bowl season with a disappointing 8-8 campaign. He would retire after that year, leaving the team seeking its first new head caoch in 15 years. While Colbert was certainly not solely responsible for hiring Mike Tomlin, his input was certainly a factor in the decision.
What he was responsible for was continuing to stock an absolutely loaded roster with more talent. Names like Santonio Holmes, Lawrence Timmons, and Lamar Woodley would go on to be key players in another Super Bowl trophy just three years later. Sprinkle in a few key free agent signings like Jeff Hastings and James Farrior as well. Two Super Bowls in four seasons with two different coaches with only one constant….Kevin Colbert.
Post Super Bowls: lots of talent, little success
From 2010 and beyond would be the era where Kevin Colbert would really hit his stride. Drafting players like Antonio Brown in the sixth round, building out the offensive line with selections like Pouncey, and Decastro, and stocking the defense with players like Cam Heyward, Ryan Shazier, and Stephon Tuitt. Once Colbert added Le’Veon Bell in the second round of the 2013 draft, the Killer B era was in full affect.
This would go down as the most frustrating era in Steelers history. The team was littered with Pro Bowl talent on both sides of the ball. There would be several playoff failures despite an incredible collection of talent. Le’Veon Bell’s holdout, and Antonio Brown’s meltdown would cap off this tumultuous era. By 2017, they began the process of tearing it all down.
The Steelers have quietly given up on the “Killer B’s” era
Trying to win with defense:
This was the era that forced the Steelers, and Kevin Colbert, into several mistakes that set the franchise back years. You can even make the argument one of the greatest trades Kevin Colbert ever made contributed to the problem. In 2019 the Steelers lost Ben Roethlisberger to a season ending injury in only week two. The team was 0-2, their starting quarterback was out for the season, and it seemed like a perfect opportunity for a reset. Pittsburgh did the exact opposite. They traded that potential top ten pick to the Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
This franchise insistence to win with defense, and an aging quarterback would be their undoing. Despite hitting on some excellent players like TJ Watt, Bud Dupree, and Javon Hargrave the playoff losses would continue to mount. There were some significant draft misses during this time. The Artie Burns, and Jarvis Jones, and Devin Bush selections were complete busts. All in all, the years of investments on the defensive side of the ball produced no Super Bowls.
End of an era:
The last few seasons of the Kevin Colbert era were marred by the team trying to squeeze one last Super Bowl run out of Ben Roehtlisberger. Shortcuts were taken, and the results showed it. The team tried to band-aid the offensive line with over the hill veterans, and day two draft picks. Colbert selected Najee Harris in the first round in a desperate attempt to kick start the run game. None of it worked, and extending Roethlisberger only added to the salary cap problems this team would face. Big Ben would later say Colbert wanted to move on, but was overruled by Tomlin and Art Rooney.
Once Roethlisberger retired the Steelers had a chance to take their time in finding the next franchise quarterback. Instead they selected Kenny Pickett in one of the worst quarterback drafts in recent memory. The jury is still out on Pickett, but the early results aren’t good. It is most likely a selection Kevin Colbert would like back.
At the end of the day there is no denying the tremendous career of Kevin Colbert. The number of Hall of Fame players acquired during his time with the Steelers speaks for itself. There is debate how the last few drafts turned out. They were certainly not among his best work. Even still they produced players like Najee Harris, Alex Highsmith, Diontea Johnson, and George Pickens. However it ended, Kevin Colbert is not only one of the best Steelers general managers of all time, his record ranks amount the best in the NFL as well.