1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,880 Speaker 1: All right, Omar, thanks very much for being with us. 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: My first question for you. The Steelers won the AFC 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: North last year. A lot of people didn't predict that. 4 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: I know, I don't know if you pay much attention 5 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,120 Speaker 1: to that kind of thing, but you have quality wins 6 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: over teams like New England, who was in the Super Bowl, 7 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: Detroit Baltimore. How would you categorize that twenty twenty five season. 8 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 2: You know, we won some good games, but the reality 9 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 2: is our goals won a Super Bowl and we didn't 10 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 2: reach that goal. 11 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 3: So anything short of that's not good enough. 12 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: And we're in the process of evaluating everything we did 13 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: last year and trying to get better and improve because ultimately, 14 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 2: our goals won a super Bowl. 15 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: The season ended and Mike Tomlin announced his resignation, it 16 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: seemed to catch all of us by surprise. What was 17 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: your reaction when you heard the news? 18 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, same, You know, he came and met with me 19 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 2: that morning, the day after the game, and he told 20 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 2: me what he was going to do, and I was 21 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 2: surprised as everyone else. You know, we've been together with 22 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: him for nineteen years and he's been a great partner. 23 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: You know, it's been a truly been an honor to 24 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: work side by side with coach t And but yeah, 25 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 2: I was surprised like everyone else. 26 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: So I'm sure that now you have to go through 27 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: the process you probably weren't expecting to, which is hiring 28 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: a head coach. What made Mike McCarthy the right guy 29 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: to hire? 30 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 2: So we we, uh, we had a very we were 31 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: very open minded and and we we did cast a 32 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 2: wide net trying to figure out, you know, trying to 33 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 2: find the right guy, interview some great candidate. 34 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 3: It's really really the process. 35 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: Was was really proud of the process that we ran, 36 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 2: and you know, Art Rooney led that and it was 37 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 2: it was tremendous. 38 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 3: But as we went through the process of you know, 39 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 3: we evaluated. 40 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 2: Where we were as an organization and uh, where we 41 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: are as a team, you know, it just it just 42 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 2: just felt right and it became evident that Mike McCarthy 43 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 2: was the was the right choice for us. 44 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 3: And uh, it's been great so far. 45 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 2: You know, it's it's been we've been NonStop since he 46 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 2: got hired. 47 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 3: But it's it's it's been. It's been good. Excited. 48 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: You know, everyone talks about the combine and that's exciting, 49 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: and free agency but coach asten Hoe his own roster too, 50 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: So how does he get up to speed? How do 51 00:01:58,000 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: you help him get up to speed with a back 52 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: waiting what he currently has, which will be the bulk 53 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: of what he has in twenty twenty six. 54 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I can tell you he was extremely prepared 55 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 2: when we met, when we went through the interview process. 56 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 3: You know, I was really impressive about how well he 57 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 3: knew our roster. 58 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 2: And obviously there's things he doesn't know, things that happened 59 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 2: that are going on inside the building that no one 60 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: else knows. 61 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,119 Speaker 3: And you know, it's been part of the last month. 62 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: You know, we've been we communicate multiple times a day. Uh, 63 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 2: you know, we're working long hours trying to get to 64 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 2: know each other, and that's been part of the process. 65 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: His press conference, one of the great things he said 66 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 1: was being flexible with the players on the roster, tailoring 67 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: the system to them. That having been said, are there 68 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: minor tweaks of what he might want at a particular 69 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: position as opposed to what you have or what you 70 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: might be scouting leading up to free agency in the draft? 71 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, certainly there's gonna be some things that are different 72 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 2: than than or he's gonna want expect different things. And 73 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 2: then maybe and that goes coach to coach, right, every 74 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: coach is gonna be a little bit different. But for 75 00:02:57,760 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 2: the most part, you know, I think he's excited about 76 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 2: the the pieces that are in place here. We have 77 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 2: some good young players and some exciting players, and uh, 78 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: you know, he's excited to work with him. 79 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 3: I know his his staff as echoed the same thing. 80 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: You know, when when you come to the combine, I 81 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: think maybe a lot of fans maybe don't fully understand 82 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 1: what goes the amount of work that goes in before 83 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: the combine. It's not like you're showing up shuffling through papers. 84 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: Hey what do we have here? Guys? You know, so 85 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: what are some of the milestones kind of leading up 86 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: to the draft? Leading up to the combine, I should say, 87 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: for you and your stuff? 88 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 2: So scouts really spend uh, obviously a lot of their 89 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 2: time on the road and in the fall getting ready 90 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: and evaluating the guys. 91 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 3: And we get together in December. 92 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 2: It kind of gives me a rundown idea of what 93 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: the draft is looking like and who the players are. 94 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: It gives me a good first look, and then what 95 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: happens is in February. We spent a couple of weeks 96 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: locked into that uh, that that draft room. It's interesting 97 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: because every day it feels like that. 98 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 3: Room getting smaller and smaller. Uh. 99 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 2: But we you know, it's it's it's a it's a 100 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: grind for two weeks there leading up to the and 101 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: a lot of phone calls and a lot of sidebar 102 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: meetings getting to know that the players that are going 103 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: to be part of the process. 104 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 3: And you know, we come here, this is the next step. 105 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 3: There's still a lot of work to be done. 106 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: What is the most valuable part of the combine for you? 107 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 2: You know, you guys have heard me talk about I've 108 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 2: said this publicly about trying to identify guys that are Steelers. 109 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 3: That are there they are for us. 110 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: Certain players might not, you know, fit what we want 111 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: as guys to be a Steeler, but they might fit 112 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 2: somewhere else. 113 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 3: And you know what that means. It's it's it's sometimes 114 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 3: hard to explain. 115 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 2: Because there's so many characteristics and traits of what we 116 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: what we want a Steeler to to be and to 117 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: look like. 118 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 3: And but when you're in this you sort of know. 119 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: So for me, being here in the interview process, watching 120 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 2: these guys, how they interact when they're not they don't 121 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 2: know they're being necessarily filmed, and just just seeing that 122 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 2: and obviously working out Uh, it's it's it's all part 123 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 2: of it, just. 124 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 3: Really getting to know them and see if they're they're 125 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 3: meant to be Pittsburgh Steelers. 126 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: This might not be a great question, might be a 127 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: better question two months from now. I'm sure it probably 128 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 1: would be. But are there strengths and weaknesses whether it's 129 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 1: position or hey, the top of the draft is good 130 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: or no, no, there's more depth than top of the draft. 131 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: Or are you still kind of working through that. 132 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're still working through you know, as I sit 133 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: here today, I mean there's some really. 134 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 3: Good football players. 135 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 2: This is a good draft, a lot of talented players, 136 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 2: and you know. 137 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 3: We have twelve picks, which is a lot. You know, 138 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 3: as a sit here today, I wish I had forty picks. Like, 139 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 3: there's some good football players out there. But the spring 140 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 3: is really important for this. 141 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 2: Process and allows us to sort out some things and 142 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 2: you know, things like the medical and be off the 143 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: field stuff and certain schematic things and things that you 144 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 2: learn about guys. 145 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 3: But you know, we'll get there. But it's fluid. It's fluid. 146 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,119 Speaker 1: Right now, you and your staff have had three really 147 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: well regarded drafts. How do you make sure that trend continues? 148 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: Are there little things that you're still kind of fine 149 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: tuning or is it pretty much a machine sort of 150 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: by now? 151 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 3: So you know, it's a good question. 152 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,159 Speaker 2: You know, I'd say every year, after the draft, and 153 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 2: you know, we get into the season, we evaluate ourselves. 154 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: We self scout ourselves, see how we did and the 155 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 2: process and what we can tweak and what we can 156 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 2: do better. For the most part, we've sort of identified 157 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: what we wanted every position, so we just source we 158 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 2: stick to that. 159 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: This time last year, there were a lot of questions 160 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: about the quarterback position. A lot of them revolved around 161 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers. Here we are a year later, there's still 162 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 1: a lot of questions about the quarterback position, mostly involving 163 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: around Aaron Rodgers. 164 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 3: So, uh, what is that? What is the status there? Uh? 165 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 3: You know, I I've had conversations with Aaron. 166 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 2: Uh. Coach McCarthy has two, uh god, good conversations, honest conversations. 167 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 2: You know, I think we went we started off last year, 168 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 2: we went at this. I think we'd all agree that 169 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: we probably thought it was just gonna be a one 170 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 2: year thing. But it was a really good experience for 171 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 2: us and and for him, I believe. 172 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 3: But you know, we'll see where it goes. You know, 173 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 3: I don't foresee this. 174 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: Uh, this isn't gonna be like last year where drags 175 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: on into June. 176 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 3: I think we'll know probably sooner than later, you know, 177 00:06:58,200 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 3: I don't. I don't have an exact date on it, 178 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 3: but you know, we'll see. 179 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: So you've continue to be aggressive in free agency. I 180 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 1: don't know if you. I'm sure you have an idea 181 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: of this year's class, and certainly guys can be extended. 182 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: Some of your own guys might be extended. So outside 183 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: of the combine, how much attention is being focused on 184 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: re signing some of your own players and what this 185 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: year's free agency class. 186 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 3: Might look like. 187 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, right now, it's it's really on our own guys. 188 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 2: You know, that's that's the priority. That we have some 189 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 2: key free agents that we players that we want back. 190 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 2: They know they know we want to we want them back, 191 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 2: and we're just we're just going through the process and 192 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 2: you know, meeting with the agents and and hoping we 193 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: can get some of these deals done as. 194 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 3: We get closer to the sort of free agency. 195 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: So the combine is an important step, right, we know that, 196 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: but it's only one step. So what happens after the 197 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: combine is finished here in Indianapolis? 198 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, after the combine, we'll go back, get back to Pittsburgh, 199 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 2: will evaluate how these guys did, see who worked out here, 200 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: who didn't. 201 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 3: And then now the pro day start. 202 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 2: You know, Coach McCarthy and I were going to be 203 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 2: hitting the pro day circuit in March, so are our scouts. 204 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 2: And then lots of meetings, lots of conversations, a lot 205 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 2: of information gathering. Uh, and then you know, and then 206 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: the drafts will be here before we know it. 207 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: And I would be remiss if I didn't ask one 208 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: final question about the quarters. IIP, you're wearing, yeah, NFL 209 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh. What is your excitement and expectation of Believe, there's. 210 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: No place better than Western p A to b hosting this. 211 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: You know, we've been talking about this for a long 212 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 2: time and it's hard to believe that it's it's here. 213 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 2: You know that this is the year, and I'm so exciting. 214 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 2: I'm getting a ton of requests. I'm sure a lot 215 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 2: of people are and you know, but my focus obviously 216 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 2: will be and on picking the players. But I can't 217 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 2: tell you how excited I am this. The city is excited, 218 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 2: the organization's excited, and I can't wait to show you know. 219 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 2: I've been in Pittsburgh Apple what twenty five, twenty six years, 220 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: and I've grown. I love it, you know, It's a 221 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 2: great place to be and it has so much the 222 00:08:58,960 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 2: reasion has so much. 223 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 3: More to offer than people realize. 224 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: And I can't wait for whatever, five six, seven hundred 225 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 2: thousand people that are coming to see it to really 226 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 2: get an exposure of western Pennsylvania because it's special, it's unique. 227 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 3: And can't wait. Oh, Mark, thanks very much, Appanis. I'm 228 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 3: good to see h