If Omar Khan Leaves, Will Samir Suleiman Replace Him?
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday it was reported by multiple sources that the Miami Dolphins’ brass interviewed Omar Khan for their vacant general manager position. I cannot say that I blame the Dolphins for interviewing the Pittsburgh Steelers’ current director of football administration. Khan has been a key front office piece in Pittsburgh since 2001, and a big reason why the team enjoyed so much success during the 2000’s.
A hot commodity on the general manager market, it will be only a matter of time before the 36-year-old will hold that position for some NFL franchise. If Khan is to leave this offseason or at any point in the near future, then the Steelers will need someone to replace him as the director of football administration in their front office.
Thankfully for the Steelers, they might already have Khan’s “replacement in waiting” within their organization in the form of Samir Suleiman.
Pittsburgh’s current football administration coordinator was apparently a consultant for the franchise during the 2011 and 2012 seasons before he was brought on full-time last spring according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Tabbed to help the Steelers with their salary cap issues when he was hired in 2013, Suleiman could very well receive the promotion to Khan’s current position if he leaves for Miami or elsewhere.
Although Suleiman is relatively new to Pittsburgh’s organization, he still has plenty of experience under his belt when it comes to working in the front office of a professional football franchise.
Suleiman worked for ten seasons (2000-2009) under the St. Louis Rams’ president of football operations/general manager Jay Zygmunt. Before his stint in St. Louis, Suleiman worked for the Jacksonville Jaguars as their manager of contract information, and he also focused on contracts and the salary cap related issues with the NFL management council according to Kaboly.
Final Thoughts
Unless Kevin Colbert retires in the very near future, it is difficult for me to see Khan staying with the Steelers much longer. He has been groomed to be a general manager over the last decade, and his shot might lie somewhere outside of Pittsburgh. If this is indeed the case, then it looks like the Steelers’ brass at least have someone experienced enough to replace Khan with if he does leave.
Suleiman has a knowledge of Pittsburgh’s current cap situation, has plenty of experience at his disposal and he could very well be the franchise’s choice to replace Khan. I would certainly be a fan of the move, and promoting a candidate of Suleiman’s caliber would definitely lessen the blow of the loss of Khan.
Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com, Spotrac and Pro Football Reference
Follow on Twitter: @DominicDiTolla and @NicePickCowherC
Like “NPC” on Facebook: Nice Pick, Cowher