LATROBE, Pa. -- The Steelers took care of the first part of unfinished business by signing Mike Tomlin to a contract extension earlier this week.
It carried on a tradition of the team extending its head coaches with two years remaining on their contract, something the team has done consistently with one exception -- in 2005 with Bill Cowher.
But the second part of the equation -- signing Kevin Colbert to an extension -- isn't forthcoming. That won't happen, if at all, until sometime after the 2019 season per an agreement between Colbert and Art Rooney II.
"When I did my last extension, it was done with the understanding that when we got to the end of the extension and I was still employed, that most likely we would probably approach it year to year," Colbert said. "That was a personal request on my part. I'm very grateful that Art is accommodating to that. This is where myself and my family are in our lives. We want to make those decisions on a year-to-year basis from this point forward."
At 62, Colbert has been with the Steelers since 2000, first as director of football operations, then as general manager. The duties in both of those jobs are the same, making him the longest tenured GM in the NFL.
The Steelers have had just one losing season in that time period and have gone to three Super Bowls, winning two.
And despite not having a long-term deal in place, Colbert is approaching this as business as usual.
"My schedule this year is as busy as it was in any previous year in terms of college visits, college studies, games and all of that," Colbert said. "Nothing has changed along those lines. When we're in meetings with scouts, I'm talking about things we have to do different next year in our meetings. The mindset is about 2019 and 2019 is the priority. I'm not thinking about this as my last year. What we have talked about is that we'll make that decision at some point when it's agreeable."
That could come anytime after the 2019 season is completed. Or, it could come after the 2020 draft next April.
One thing Colbert knows is that he probably wouldn't walk away after a Super Bowl victory.
"When you win, you want to win again," Colbert said. "Depending on what happens, it could affect that. But I do know that when you win, you want to do it again."
While Colbert's status will remain up in the air after this season, he's glad that Tomlin got his extension. The Steelers gave Tomlin a one-year extension Thursday with an option year, as well. That means Tomlin is now under contract through 2021 with an option for 2022.
Colbert bristled at the thought that some people didn't feel an extension was warranted for Tomlin.
"Coach Tomlin is 125-66-1. He's 1-1 in Super Bowls. He's never had a losing season," Colbert said. "Mike Tomlin is a great NFL coach. Anyone that argues that is not paying attention to the facts. The facts are there. I'm very blessed to work with Coach Tomlin, the Rooneys. Having Mike part of that moving forward, to me, is a no brainer."
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers training camp, Latrobe, Pa., July 27, 2019 -- MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
