Steelers GM Kevin Colbert Still without Contract for 2021

The contract of Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is set to expire this May after the 2021 NFL Draft, but Colbert does not sounds as if he’s in a hurry to sign a long-term extension.

Colbert has been operating under a series of one-year deals and he said on Wednesday that he’d prefer to continue operating in that fashion.

“Fortunately, the organization is willing to look at me on a year-to-year basis and quite honestly, that’s how I look at myself and evaluate myself,” Colbert said. “How did I do this past year? We didn’t do good enough. That’s the evaluation I’m making of myself and Art (Rooney II) and I will discuss that at the appropriate time. Right now, the appropriate thing to do is to focus on this team, what we need to do in this given moment.”

Colbert has been with the Steelers since 2000, starting as director of football of operations, and was given the title of general manager in 2010, directing the team to three Super Bowls and two titles.

Colbert was connected with the open Detroit Lions job this offseason, but never formally interviewed for the position. Colbert was with the Lions from 1990-99.

There has also been some speculation that 64-year-old, a North Catholic and Robert Morris alum, may be close to retiring, but he gave no indication that is the case when asked about his status.

“My contract’s not up until the end of May, so we have plenty of time to sort through that,” Colbert said. “Fortunately, they are willing to work with me on a year-to-year basis. And quite honestly, that is all we deserve because we have to continue to prove ourselves each and every year.”

When Rooney spoke with the media earlier this offseason, he was guarded about whether or not Colbert would return, and said he hoped the two sides would be able to work something out.