Steelers Scout Named One of AFC’s Best
Pittsburgh Steelers scout Jim Ward was voted on by his peers as one of the NFL’s best college scouts among AFC talent evaluators, https://twitter.com/InsideTheLeague/status/1765077315636416953″>according
to Neil Stratton of Inside The League. It’s the first time that Ward’s been honored with a BART award.
Jim Abrams of the Miami Dolphins, Calvin Branch of the Las Vegas Raiders, Anthony Coughlan of the Indianapolis Colts, Alonzo Dotson of the Buffalo Bills, Dom Green and Johnathan Stigall of the New York Jets and Dan Zegers of the Cleveland Browns were also winners.
Stratton is the founder of Inside The League, a go-to site for scouting information and resources. Stratton explained on X the process of how winners are determined for BART awards.
“For those unfamiliar with the BART List, it’s our third year honoring the top #NFL scouts in the league. All active NFL scouts are emailed ballots in the fall, then votes are tabulated and plaques are awarded at our annual event at the #NFLCombine. All non-GM scouts are eligible,” https://twitter.com/InsideTheLeague/status/1765084183548866667″>Stratton
wrote.
Ward was a Midwest scout with the Philadelphia Eagles before being hired by the Steelers in May of 2023.
Ward joined the Eagles scouting staff in a full-time capacity in 2017, working under now Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl during those years. In 2018, he was named the team’s Northeast Area scout but transitioned to the Midwest in 2020. Prior to his full-time hiring, he would work as a consultant for the team.
Ward has plenty of local ties to Pittsburgh, including the fact that he resides in Jefferson Hills. He played his college football at Slippery Rock, becoming an all-conference selection three times during his career. Growing up, Ward played his high school football at Steel Valley high school in Munhall. Ward joined the San Diego Chargers after his career but ended up in the CFL and AFL for a couple of years after that.
Known in the Monongahela Valley to most around WPIAL football, Ward has coached teams in the WPIAL as well, including South Allegheny and McKeesport. The local ties only help with his familiarity with the Steelers, but just like Weidl, it was a homecoming of sorts for Ward.
The hire came on the heels of longtime Steelers scout Mark Gorscak calling it a career after 28 years with the team.
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