There is something to be said for people in big positions who don’t act like big people.
I can’t possibly conceive of a bigger position in this town than being the man who constructs the Pittsburgh Steelers. Talk about a position of unlimited swag.
But there isn’t a hint of boastfulness or arrogance in Kevin Colbert, a remarkably unassuming man who is good at his job and even better in regards to how he handles himself. This guy is a really, really good dude.
The man has been working for the Steelers for 15 years. Here’s betting that, during that time, you’ve never heard a bad word uttered about him. Not one time.
I’ll be honest: I’ve had very, very limited dialogue with Colbert over the years. He’s always that quiet guy in the background. But I see him frequently and have always been impressed, his polite public demeanor displaying not a hint of phoniness.
He’s just a nice man who happens to be very, very powerful. How often does that happen?
I recall vividly the first time I met Colbert. It was 2004 at Heinz Field and a rookie quarterback named Ben Roethlisberger was making his first home start against the Bengals.
At halftime of a tight game, I was getting a beverage from the soda fountain machine. I noticed Colbert in line behind me, which seemed kind of odd. People like Colbert stand in line for drinks with the lowlife media? Don’t they have some fancy refrigerator for people like him in a suite or something?
But no, Colbert was standing there with the citizens, drinking a diet coke and watching the other games taking place that afternoon.
While standing beside me during halftime, he looked at me and said, “I don’t know you.”
When you’re 24 and working for the Daily News in McKeesport, you’d be amazed how many people don’t know you. I think I made some stupid joke along those lines.
Colbert then extended his hand. “Well, hi,” he said. “I’m Kevin Colbert. It’s nice to meet you.”
This might seem like the smallest of gestures. But I’ll have you know that other general managers in other sports — I guess he was the Director of Football Operations at that point, which means the same thing — don’t always behave in such a fashion. Some aren’t all that friendly. Many don’t speak to you during games, the understandable stress level of the job often too much to handle.
But Colbert had time to engage in conversation with a nobody. That left an impression on me.
As the years would pass, I’d see Colbert frequently. He’s the man who runs the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’s a mighty big Penguins fan, you may have heard.
He’s never been a stranger to Penguins games over the years. In fact, he’s something of an addict.
On occasion, I’d see him outside of the locker room or wandering through the arena.
No special suite seats were necessary for him. He never asked to meet players or to be treated differently than anyone else.
When fans would approach him to chat, he would chat back. And really, could there be anything more annoying than being the general manager of the Steelers and having people suggest what you should do in an upcoming draft?
I can’t even imagine. But this guy just handles it in stride and does so with a smile on his face. He doesn’t seek fame and doesn’t treat anyone with disrespect.
It’s no surprise that he’s a native Pittsburgher. Colbert really is one of us, a remarkably nice man who represents the Steelers and Pittsburgh as well as anyone I could imagine.
Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin are both extraordinarily successful men. Both have big egos, too. They probably couldn’t have achieved all of their success without the quiet guy who was always happy to let them have the spotlight.
It’s just his way.
And his way represents the Steelers Way so very well.
Kevin Colbert is a very, very good dude.
Kevin Colbert has been calling the personnel shots on the North Side for 15 years. -- GETTY
August 10, 2015
Josh’s Good Dudes: Kevin Colbert, Steelers
55by Josh Yohe • Columns • Good Dudes, Steelers
There is something to be said for people in big positions who don’t act like big people.
I can’t possibly conceive of a bigger position in this town than being the man who constructs the Pittsburgh Steelers. Talk about a position of unlimited swag.
But there isn’t a hint of boastfulness or arrogance in Kevin Colbert, a remarkably unassuming man who is good at his job and even better in regards to how he handles himself. This guy is a really, really good dude.
The man has been working for the Steelers for 15 years. Here’s betting that, during that time, you’ve never heard a bad word uttered about him. Not one time.
I’ll be honest: I’ve had very, very limited dialogue with Colbert over the years. He’s always that quiet guy in the background. But I see him frequently and have always been impressed, his polite public demeanor displaying not a hint of phoniness.
He’s just a nice man who happens to be very, very powerful. How often does that happen?
I recall vividly the first time I met Colbert. It was 2004 at Heinz Field and a rookie quarterback named Ben Roethlisberger was making his first home start against the Bengals.
At halftime of a tight game, I was getting a beverage from the soda fountain machine. I noticed Colbert in line behind me, which seemed kind of odd. People like Colbert stand in line for drinks with the lowlife media? Don’t they have some fancy refrigerator for people like him in a suite or something?
But no, Colbert was standing there with the citizens, drinking a diet coke and watching the other games taking place that afternoon.
While standing beside me during halftime, he looked at me and said, “I don’t know you.”
When you’re 24 and working for the Daily News in McKeesport, you’d be amazed how many people don’t know you. I think I made some stupid joke along those lines.
Colbert then extended his hand. “Well, hi,” he said. “I’m Kevin Colbert. It’s nice to meet you.”
This might seem like the smallest of gestures. But I’ll have you know that other general managers in other sports — I guess he was the Director of Football Operations at that point, which means the same thing — don’t always behave in such a fashion. Some aren’t all that friendly. Many don’t speak to you during games, the understandable stress level of the job often too much to handle.
But Colbert had time to engage in conversation with a nobody. That left an impression on me.
As the years would pass, I’d see Colbert frequently. He’s the man who runs the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’s a mighty big Penguins fan, you may have heard.
He’s never been a stranger to Penguins games over the years. In fact, he’s something of an addict.
On occasion, I’d see him outside of the locker room or wandering through the arena.
No special suite seats were necessary for him. He never asked to meet players or to be treated differently than anyone else.
When fans would approach him to chat, he would chat back. And really, could there be anything more annoying than being the general manager of the Steelers and having people suggest what you should do in an upcoming draft?
I can’t even imagine. But this guy just handles it in stride and does so with a smile on his face. He doesn’t seek fame and doesn’t treat anyone with disrespect.
It’s no surprise that he’s a native Pittsburgher. Colbert really is one of us, a remarkably nice man who represents the Steelers and Pittsburgh as well as anyone I could imagine.
Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin are both extraordinarily successful men. Both have big egos, too. They probably couldn’t have achieved all of their success without the quiet guy who was always happy to let them have the spotlight.
It’s just his way.
And his way represents the Steelers Way so very well.
Kevin Colbert is a very, very good dude.