With the draft over, longtime Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert’s tenure in that role has officially come to an end. As a result, the team’s search for his replacement is now front and center. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (on Twitter) that second interviews will be conducted with Ryan Cowden and John Spytek, among others.
[RELATED: Colbert Officially Steps Down]
Cowden has been with the Titans since 2016. After 16 years in Carolina, Tennessee hired him to work in the player personnel department, and he has played a key role in the team’s recent success. As a result, he has generated interest in recent GM searches, including an interview with the Giants earlier this year for their opening and his first meeting with Pittsburgh one month later.
Spytek has followed an almost identical recent career path to Cowden. He too was hired in 2016 (after spending time as a scout with the Browns and Broncos) and has served as first director, then vice president, of player personnel for the Buccaneers. Likewise, his contributions to the team’s success has caught the attention of other clubs. He interviewed with the Vikings and Raiders before doing so with the Steelers this offseason.
As Garafolo notes, the list of candidates to be interviewed a second time will grow longer than these two. For now, though, here is an updated look at Pittsburgh’s search:
- Morocco Brown, college scouting director (Colts): Interviewed
- Ran Carthon, director of player personnel (49ers): Interviewed
- Ryan Cowden, vice president of player personnel (Titans): To conduct second interview
- Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Interviewed 2/4
- Joe Hortiz, director of player personnel (Ravens): Interviewed
- Brandon Hunt, pro scouting director (Steelers): Interviewed
- Omar Khan, vice president of football and business administration (Steelers): Interviewed
- Dan Morgan, assistant general manager (Panthers): Interviewed
- Jerry Reese, former general manager (Giants): Interviewed
- Louis Riddick, former director of pro personnel (Eagles): Interviewed
- Rick Spielman, former general manager (Vikings): Interviewed
- John Spytek, director of player personnel (Buccaneers): To conduct second interview
- Andy Weidl, vice president of player personnel (Eagles): Interviewed
- Doug Whaley, vice president of player personnel (XFL): Interviewed
- John Wojciechowski, co-director of player personnel (Packers): Interviewed
- JoJo Wooden, director of player personnel (Chargers): Interviewed by 2/4
No one can say Pit wasn’t thorough in the process. I think they should have had the new guy in place prior to the draft. This way he/she can have some say in the draft. What ion the new guy doesn’t like the QB? It’ll be the typical “I inherited him, not drafted him’.
After all Colbert has done for the Steelers over the years it would have been rather classless to bring in the replacement before he was officially retired. By most accounts there weren’t any franchise QBs in the draft anyway, so the search will continue for a Big Ben replacement a while longer. Colbert’s successor will get the opportunity to find “my guy”.
Fair enough. So why not trade back and get both youth and picks? I agree that no one thought highly of this QB class.
Had the Haskins tragedy not occurred they probably would have been more inclined to trade back.
I want Louis Riddick.
Any updates on Brian Flores and the legal action taken against the NFL? Things seems to have gotten very quiet?