Recency bias is real.

What is recency bias, you ask? Here is the definition…

The tendency to place too much emphasis on experiences that are freshest in your memory.

When it comes to how the Pittsburgh Steelers faithful view the current General Manager (GM) Omar Khan, and his predecessor, Kevin Colbert, I do have to think the fan base is experiencing some of this recency bias right now.

For some reason during the craziness of the Brandon Aiyuk situation, social media has become enamored with debating if Omar Khan is better than Colbert was during his tenure. Some are debating it isn’t even close, citing recent transactions Khan has made and compared them to what Colbert did in the waning years of his time as the GM.

I’ll reference the above definition in this case, and want fans to remember Colbert didn’t just hold the job for over two decades, but also built a team who went to three Super Bowls, and won two.

“But Khan just started, wait to see what the team he is constructing does!”

That’s exactly the point. To truly compare the two, Khan will have to have more than two draft classes, and two free agency periods, under his belt before being compared to the lengthy, and impressive, resume of Kevin Colbert, a man many feel will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day.

As I write this, I want to make it known I realize Colbert’s waning years were riddled with questionable draft picks and other transactions. To his defense, he was cap-strapped with the contract of a franchise quarterback, something Khan hasn’t experienced yet as GM. But regardless of Ben Roethlisberger’s contract towards the end of his career doesn’t have anything to do with players selected in the NFL Draft.

Again, I’m not suggesting Colbert left the Steelers, and Khan, with a cupboard brimming with talent. In fact, his last draft classes were filled with players who don’t fit the vision of Khan and company, and have since been dismissed one way or another. Will Khan ever get to the level of Colbert?

Only time will tell, but it isn’t just longevity which will dictate how we view Khan’s time as the GM, but what he’s able to accomplish. If the moves which have been made in the past two years build a dominant force in the NFL which brings championship trophies back to Pittsburgh, we can absolutely have that conversation. But doing so at this juncture, well, is recency bias.

Lastly, it is okay to both appreciate and respect what Colbert did during his time with the Steelers, and also feel as if Khan is doing positive things as the man in charge for the Steelers. Both can be true, it doesn’t have to be a a one-way street. For me personally, I am thrilled with the way Khan has handled his business since taking over, but I also realize he has to be able to address the most important position in professional sports before the roster can ever be viewed as complete — quarterback. Has he done so this offseason?

We shall see.

In the meantime, let’s see what Khan has cooking before the 2024 regular season begins.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the preseason Friday night vs. the Houston Texans.