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First Call: Another internal candidate gets the second Steelers GM interview; Mike Tomlin Applauds Retiring Raven

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Friday’s “First Call” includes an update on interviews with the general manager of Pittsburgh Steelers. We also get a look at the franchise’s offseason “to do” list. Mike Tomlin pays tribute to a retiring Baltimore Raven. And an ex-penguin plays a part in St. Louis’s Colorado victory on Thursday night.

Keep it under your own management (part 2)

After a second interview with Vice President of Football and Business Administration Omar Khan, the Steelers took a second look at another internal candidate to replace Kevin Colbert as general manager.

The organization announced on Thursday that pro-scouting director Brandon Hunt has been given a second interview.

Hunt has been with the Steelers since 2010. He interviewed for the Raiders GM opening this year. The Bills and Eagles have also spoken to him about several front office openings in their organizations.

Pitt product, Upper St. Clair graduate and ex-Bills GM Doug Whaley also interviewed twice. For example, Buccaneers has vice president of player personnel John Spytek, Eagles vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl, and Titans vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says the trial may finally be coming to an end.

Colbert has headed the Steelers front office since 2000.

What’s left to do?

When someone takes over Colbert, they have a lot on their plate.

Marc Sessler of NFL.com came up with a list of one major off-season priority for every NFL team to tackle. For the Steelers, in his opinion, it’s finding a raging depth.

“The overhaul of the Pittsburgh offense (offensive) is underway, but the selection holes remain on the other side of the ball,” Sessler wrote. “The Steelers are paper thin at the linebacker outside of TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. If they were either short of time, the Steelers couldn’t count on Genard Avery or Derrek Tuszka to fill the gap. It’s a tough time of year to help. but cutbacks to camps can provide a solution. The Steelers specialize in filling gaps with veterans who are on the cutting edge.”

Like Melvin Ingram, right? That worked out great.

But that doesn’t mean the Steelers shouldn’t try again. Sessler is right. The position needs to be strengthened. The front office just has to find the right personality this year. Ingram was clearly not that man in 2021.

I would also argue that finding a similar kind of backup rollback is just as much of a challenge. But the most critical issue for the team to sort out right now is what’s going on with Stephon Tuitt.

They need to make that decision, as well as make a call on what to do about contract extensions for Diontae Johnson and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Tip from Tomlin’s hat

Of all the things that revolve around the Steelers’ rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens, one thing that may not move the needle is a gambler’s retirement.

But Steelers coach Mike Tomlin certainly took note of that development on Thursday.

Longtime Ravens gambler Sam Koch announced his retirement after 16 years in the NFL. He immediately joins Baltimore’s coaching staff as a special team advisor.

Tomlin took to Twitter to congratulate Koch on his great career.

At every press conference Tomlin has given prior to a Ravens game, he has always taken the time to praise Baltimore’s special teams, especially Koch and kicker Jason Tucker.

Koch was part of the Ravens Super Bowl XLVII team. He was a Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro in 2015.

Other side of the coin

Much has been written about the Immaculate Conception celebration that will take place at Heinz Field on Christmas Eve. The NFL schedule makers and the Steelers got together to bring the Raiders to Pittsburgh for the 50th anniversary of that event.

But as it turns out, the Steelers will have to get through another anniversary celebration from that year on — one that Black and Gold fans won’t enjoy as much.

As the folks at Steelers Depot found out, the Sunday Night primetime game on October 23 in Miami will be a celebration of the Dolphins’ undefeated campaign in 1972. They defeated the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game that year, a week after the Steelers defeated the Steelers. Raiders had sent through the Immaculate Conception.

According to a podcast with NBC Sports football writer Peter King, NFL scheduling managers Mike North and Howard Katz said they had talked with the Dolphins ahead of time about setting up that game as an anniversary special for the ’72 team’s achievement.

The Steelers were already destined to play in Miami because of the NFL’s scheduling formula, it was just a matter of when and what time.

Former penguin in the game

The St. Louis Blues tied their second-round playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche at every game. They won Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals 4-1 on Thursday.

Ex-Penguin David Perron scored two of the goals. The first was on a 5-on-3 power play.

Wow. Some teams even score with a two man lead. Is that allowed? Who knows?

Perron also scored on this two-on-one.

That was Perron’s 10th run of the postseason. Gibsonia’s Brandon Saad scored an empty goal. Game 3 is Saturday in St. Louis.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter† All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.


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