The Steelers‘ general manager, Omar Khan, has been busy this offseason. Even before the ink dried on March’s trade for DK  Metcalf and one‑year deals with Darius  Slay and Kenneth Gainwell, Khan laid out one thing clearly: “You look at it all. One obviously affects the other. You have to balance how it works,” he told Rob King, underscoring a methodical mindset in free agency.

By draft night, Khan had reinforced trenches—selecting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon at No. 21 and running back Kaleb Johnson in Round 3—continuing his balanced blueprint of immediate upgrades and long‑term value. Throw Aaron Rodgers and Jalen Ramsey in the Steel City, safe to say Omar Khan eyes on preparing a winning roster for the 2025 season. And get this, he’ll be doing this job for years to come.

This week, the Steelers signed their general manager to a new three-year contract, keeping him with the team through at least the 2028 season. “I am excited to announce we have signed Omar to a new three-year contract,” the Steelers’ president, Art Rooney II, said. “Omar and his team have done a great job over the past three years in constructing our roster through the NFL Draft, strategic trades, and free agency. We look forward to continuing that trend that will lead to even more success on the field.”

Khan will enter the 2025 season, which will be his 25th with the Steelers and fourth as the general manager of the franchise. He previously served as the team’s Vice President of Football and Business Operations. The Pittsburgh team is still working on the veteran linebacker, T.J. Watt‘s contract extension, with the regular season rapidly approaching, and the trade rumors are already in motion.

But the way things have unfolded, the organization’s keeping the GM in the Steel City for at least three years instead. The hopes seem palpable. Build a strong roster that wins the championship. They’ve managed to qualify for the playoffs in the last couple of seasons. But there’s a wrinkle: eight years without a postseason win has left them under relentless public scrutiny.

Heading into 2025, Omar Khan’s mandate is clear: end the drought.

Omar Khan believes they’re building a champion roster

A 10–7 record in both 2023 and 2024 reflects the Steelers’ trademark consistency, third and second in the AFC North, respectively. But zoom in, and the cracks show. The 2023 campaign ended with a Wild Card loss to Buffalo. The 2024 season? Atrocious. A five-game losing skid to close the year, followed by yet another Wild Card exit. The bigger picture? It’s now been eight seasons since Pittsburgh last won a playoff game.

Entering the offseason, all eyes shifted to the Steelers’ free agency and trade moves. And they delivered with their moves. Omar Khan now believes that they’ve built a championship roster. “I would like to thank Art Rooney II for his support,” the general manager said, addressing his contract extension. “I believe we are building a championship roster and look forward to the 2025 season and beyond as our goals continue to be to bring another Super Bowl to the City of Pittsburgh and our great fans.”

The Steelers’ last Super Bowl glory dates back to 2008 when Aaron Rodgers had barely logged a single season as a starter. That’s how long it’s been. Fast forward to now, and Khan’s preparation for a championship roster includes the veteran quarterback, Rodgers, as their QB1. Count DK Metcalf as their No. 1 wideout, whom they signed on a four-year $132 million deal, and a blockbuster trade of Jalen Ramsey to bolster their secondary, and you’ve got the Steelers team that suddenly feels like it’s all about winning again.

But then again, there are some bigger issues that Khan still has to tackle. TJ Watt’s contract extension. The 7x Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract. No wonder he’s seeking a new deal. The Steelers have a history of doing contract extensions just before the regular season kicks off. With the 2025 season a couple of months ahead, expect them to sign TJ soon—unless they’ve already made up their mind to trade him.

So, all in all, Omar Khan’s desire to build a champion roster started with big signings and trades feels real. With a few pieces still missing, the general manager is expected to prepare a complete winning roster ahead of the 2025 season.