Steelers GM Kevin Colbert stepping down after 2022 NFL Draft

It was learned earlier this month that Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert was expected to step down from his role and retire at some point this year as the team turns the figurative page in multiple ways under head coach Mike Tomlin. 

There's now a timetable for Colbert's departure. 

Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed Friday that Colbert will step down after the 2022 NFL draft in April. Colbert originally joined the Steelers in 2000 as director of football operations and had been general manager since 2010. Throughout Colbert's time with the organization, Pittsburgh reached three Super Bowls and won two (XL and XLIII). 

"We have left the door open, Kevin and I, to possibly have him fill an ongoing role after the draft," Rooney explained. "We will be conducting a search for a new GM starting immediately. Probably won't make a hire until after the draft. We will be interviewing people. We've already interviewed two of our in-house candidates: (vice president of football operations and business administration) Omar Khan and (pro scouting coordinator) Brandon Hunt."

The Las Vegas Raiders interviewed Hunt earlier this week, while the Chicago Bears were linked with Khan but ultimately hired Ryan Poles, formerly with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Rooney added: 

"We're going to fill these positions with the best people we can find for the job, whether they're internal or external. We're certainly not afraid to bring somebody in from the outside if need be. When we hired Coach Tomlin, we had some good internal candidates in that round and wound up hiring somebody from the outside. We just don't try to get too much of a narrow focus and really try to get the best person for the job wherever they're coming from." 

As had been expected for months, if not at least a year, long-time Steelers quarterback and future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger officially retired on Thursday.