If you were an NFL coach or executive seeking a vote of confidence, a secure future or just plain validation for a job well-done, this was the week to be employed by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After signing head coach Mike Tomlin to a two-year contract extension through the 2018 season on Thursday, the Steelers did the same for general manager Kevin Colbert on Saturday, as per their official team website.
- Colbert has been the team’s general manager for the past five years (the first in team history to officially be given that title) after serving as director of football operations from 2000-2010.
Colbert, a Pittsburgh native who graduated from Robert Morris University, came to the Steelers in 2000, after serving as the Lions Pro Scouting Director for 10-seasons.
Among Colbert’s most-notable moves in his first three seasons with the Steelers were the free-agent signings of center Jeff Hartings in 2001 and inside linebacker James Farrior in 2002. Hartings played on the Steelers Super Bowl XL team, and Farrior would go on to captain some of the best defenses in team history and start in Super Bowl XL, Super Bowl XLIII and Super Bowl XLV.
In-terms of memorable draft picks, safety Troy Polamalu (acquired during the 2003 NFL Draft in a rare trade in-which the Steelers moved 11-spots up in the first round); and quarterback Ben Roethilsberger (selected 11th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft) rank pretty high, as both players proved vital to the Super Bowl success the team would enjoy in the very near-future.
