After spending a few years out of football, Kevin Colbert has reemerged in the college ranks. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the former Steelers executive is joining Colorado State as a consultant.
According to Thamel, Colbert’s new role will see him working closely with coach Jay Norvell and Colorado State’s player personnel department to help build up the school’s “football front office.” Colorado State is focused on staying “at the forefront for the new era of college football,” and they’re turning to a long-time NFL executive to help their cause.
Colbert spent more than 20 years in Pittsburgh, working his way up from director of football operations to general manager. The executive earned a pair of Super Bowl rings during his time with the organization, and he had the distinction of being the organization’s first official GM when he was promoted to the role in 2010.
During his time guiding the front office, Colbert was credited with adding foundational players (including Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu). The executive also had a prominent role in the team’s transition from Bill Cowher to Mike Tomlin. Colbert stepped down from his role following the 2022 draft, and he’s been out of football since.
Hmmm. I wonder how will effect the rivalry with Deion Sanders’ Colorado. Fighting NFL resumes with NFL resumes, I suppose. I like Colbert’s chances to improve the program. We’ve seen how even average levels of NFL experience (let alone actual legitimate success) can change college programs at a coaching level; getting the long term showrunner of the one of the league’s winningest franchises could help an otherwise second level school step up a lot.
This seems to be the trend that has begun getting former NFLers to help player management now that college is paying players.
Supposedly the team that had the highest 2024 payroll just won the national championship. 3 out of the final 4 teams were playing with transfer QBs.
Bringing in these high profile NFL people makes it easier to recruit talent and more importantly it will induce alumni to increase donations. The gains far outweigh the downside from the college’s perspective.
CSU athletics are a joke. Screw them for using state tax money to build a stadium that will never sell out.