Are Steelers Fans Losing Patience with Omar Khan?
As the NFL offseason shifts from free agency to the draft, NFL general managers like Omar Khan of the Pittsburgh Steelers are busy scouting college talent, and fans are busy judging how they’ve done so far.
Betway used a “social listening tool,” to peek into online posts and evaluate how each fanbase feels about its GM. Of the 32 NFL decision makers, Pittsburgh’s Khan ranked 13th in popularity, as the sportsbook rated online sentiment toward him as 37% positive.
The biggest impact to his score so far is certainly the DK Metcalf trade with the Seattle Seahawks, in which Khan only gave up a second-round pick and a pair of late-round swaps for the star receiver. The Steelers then signed the former All-Pro to a five-year, $150 million contract extension.
Looking downward, Seahawks GM John Schneider has the fourth-worst score in the league, which shows who the fans think got the better of that exchange.
Khan also allowed running back Najee Harris to walk in free agency, handing the reigns to last year’s second option, Jalen Warren. Harris signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, joining 2024 teammate Donte Jackson, who left Pittsburgh to sign in Los Angeles for two years and $13 million. Chargers’ GM Joe Hortiz was 28th on the list, with 17% favorability.
However, Khan’s score is perhaps the most volatile of anyone on the list. For better or for worse, it will change dramatically when the Steelers settle on a starting quarterback. The longer this Aaron Rodgers saga plays out, fans may grow impatient. Nobody wants to be the last team looking for a QB, and the GM will be the one to take the blame.
Looking elsewhere, James Gladstone of the Jacksonville Jaguars is first on the list, with 96% positive feeling toward him. The 34-year-old is enjoying a honeymoon period, having barely finished six weeks on the job.
The next GMs in the ranking lead teams that exceeded expectations and improved their win totals last season, such as Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings, George Paton of the Denver Broncos and Ryan Poles or the Chicago Bears. Fans of all three believe they drafted their franchise quarterback in 2024 and make them part of the few with majority support. Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta rounds out the top five, with 60% favorability.
Atlanta Falcons GM Terry Fontenot sits dead last, at 9%. He’s busy trying to get rid of quarterback Kirk Cousins, just one year after he signed the veteran to a $180 million-dollar deal.
If anything, the list is a reminder of how short NFL fans’ memories are. Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman has just 28% support two months after winning Super Bowl LIX, while Brett Veach of the Kansas City Chiefs is 10th, eight percent above Khan.
Either way, this snapshot won’t be accurate for long, so expect this list to look completely different after the 2025 NFL Draft later this month.