Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison responded to Eric Ebron questioning whether players respect general manager Omar Khan.
“I like Omar. I have a good relationship with Omar. Omar’s been there since 2001. I know Omar got time under Bill Cowher. Omar got time under Mike Tomlin. Omar got time under the old GM, Kevin Colbert. I talked to him personally. I know he spent a tremendous amount of time learning and talking to Kevin,” Harrison said on his Deebo & Joe podcast. “I’ve had multiple conversations, interactions with Omar talking about football, his goal of wanting to become a GM in the NFL, and the years and the time that he took, the steps he took learning, trying to accomplish that goal.
“I don’t know what old dude is talking about right here with guys not having respect for him. He’s been through the whole process.”
Sounds like former #Steelers TE Eric Ebron and James Harrison don’t see eye-to-eye when it comes to Omar Khan😬:#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/SApbvzCFMm
— Steelers Now (@PghSteelersNow) January 20, 2026
Ebron, who played for the Steelers from 2020-2021, ripped Khan on his On My Soul podcast episode with ex-Steelers running back Jaylen Samuels on Monday.
Ebron has major doubts in Khan’s ability to lead the franchise’s personnel/scouting department. Khan is also leading the charge with team president Art Rooney II in Pittsburgh’s head coach search, which has Ebron worried.
“Ever since Omar took over, what have Omar’s draft picks done? Ebron said. “We was there with Omar. I’m not unsure a lot of motherf***ers walking around that building had respect for Omar. Just call a spade a spade. Call it what it is.”
Ebron noted the Kenny Pickett and George Pickens selections in 2022 as massive failures. But those were not Khan’s picks. Kevin Colbert was still the general manager at the time. He did not retire until after the 2022 NFL Draft. Khan took over in late May of 2022.
Ebron nor Samuels played for the Steelers when Khan was the team’s general manager, either. Khan was previously the vice president of football and business administration. A completely different role than being a GM.
In three draft classes, center Zach Frazier and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. have been Khan’s best picks. There’s an argument for both players that they should’ve been named All-Pro in 2025. Troy Fautanu is also on the right track after starting the entire 2025 season at right tackle.
Khan might’ve missed on left tackle Broderick Jones, but it’s still early to tell. Jones suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 12 against the Chicago Bears.
Coupled with the head coach decision, the biggest move on the horizon for Khan is to find a franchise quarterback. The Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos have all found their future QBs with selecting Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Bo Nix, respectively, in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Patriots and Broncos are in the AFC Championship Game, while the...
