Former Steelers pro scouting director and Bills general manager Doug Whaley is the third candidate to receive a second interview to be a potential replacement for retiring Kevin Colbert according to the NFL Network.
Whaley, 49, joins Titans vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden and Buccaneers vice president of player personnel John Spytek as candidates who remain in the running to replace Colbert, who is retiring after 22 years with the team.
Whaley, a native of Upper St. Clair, played collegiately at Pitt before joining the Steelers' scouting department in 1999 under Tom Donahoe. He remained with the Steelers after Colbert was hired in 2000, staying with the team until being hired as assistant general manager of the Bills in 2010, eventually moving to general manager in 2013.
Colbert, whose contract ran out at the end of the NFL Draft, said he will stay on with the team as general manager at least through the end of May. He also would like to remain with the team in some capacity, much the same way Pro Football Hall of Fame scout Bill Nunn did following his retirement in 1987.
Whaley told me recently he would be very open to having Colbert continue with the team if he gets the position.
"I know this much, whoever gets the job, if they’re smart, I’ve always been taught to surround yourself with wise counsel," Whaley said. "Why wouldn’t you want Kevin around? Put it this way, if I’m blessed enough to get it, that’s the first thing I’m going to do, try to implore him to stay around as much as possible, as long as possible."
Whaley is currently senior vice president of player personnel for the XFL.
In addition to Whaley, Cowden and Spytek, the Steelers also spoke with internal candidates Omar Khan and Brandon Hunt, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, Morocco Brown and Ed Dodds of the Colts, John Wojciechowski of the Packers, JoJo Wooden of the Chargers, former Titans general manager Jerry Reese, former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, 49ers personnel man Ran Carthon, Andy Weidl of the Eagles, Dan Morgan of the Panthers and Joe Horitz of the Ravens in their initial round of interviews.
