GM Omar Khan ‘wouldn’t have believed’ Steelers’ new-look QB trade deal with Bears was Successful
General manager Omar Khan has made the Steelers one of the most aggressive teams in the league since taking over in 2022.
He quickly earned the nickname of “The Khan Artist” after he traded wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Bears for the No. 32 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
However, he is still shocked Pittsburgh was able to make another deal with Chicago, among others, to rebuild the team’s quarterback room.
“If you would have told me that we’d be sitting here with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen five months ago, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Khan said on 93.7 The Fan.
The Steelers needed to make a change at quarterback after Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky threw a combined 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.
That’s exactly what they did by signing Wilson and Allen in free agency and trading a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick to the Bears for Fields.
On paper, Wilson and Fields should be upgrades over what Pittsburgh had.
Wilson alone had double the number of touchdowns (26) and fewer interceptions (eight) than the Steelers’ quarterback trio. At the same time, Fields continued to flash his upside, throwing for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushing for 657 yards and four touchdowns.
Wilson has the “pole position” to be Pittsburgh’s starter, but Khan is hoping Fields’ fresh start is exactly what he needs to turn his career around.
“We really liked Justin coming out of college,” Khan added. “He had an up-and-down situation in Chicago, and the opportunity was there to get him, and I’m excited. He’s really looked awesome. He’s a great individual, too. I didn’t know him personally until he got here. What a special person he is.”
Both quarterbacks still have much to prove after disappointing campaigns with their former teams, but the Steelers seem to be very optimistic about their new-look quarterback room heading into the 2024 season.
Several contracts list basketball, although many players aren’t shy about hooping in public. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud, Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua and Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman all participated in the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game in February. And Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill recently posted a video of him dunking while playing with the Harlem Globetrotters.
“If it’s basketball against guys that look like me, I’m good with it,” Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said with a laugh. “But the guys, they always need to be careful about whatever they’re doing off the field.
“I’m like a mother hen. I just want everybody to be safe. I’d love to keep everybody locked in Berea [Ohio] in Bubble Wrap for the entire offseason.”
