Kevin Colbert said he told president Art Rooney II and coach Mike Tomlin last May he would step down in his full-time role as general manager after the 2022 draft, acknowledging it might be time for a change, both personally for his family and professionally for the organization.
"It's something my family and I have discussed really over the last few years, and that's why we've been asking to do the year-to-year contracts," Colbert said on Monday, his first public comments since it was announced he would step down after 21 years with the organization. "It's time from a personal standpoint and I think it's time from professional standpoint.
"We always have to be open to new ways to do things and more current ways. I encourage my younger scouts to push me in that regard. The better solution might be outside the organization. We have to be open to try to stay ahead of the game."
