PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert says he doesn't make the coaching hires, but is a big supporter of Brian Flores addition to the organization as a Senior Defensive Assistant and Linebackers Coach.
"He's been a successful defensive coordinator, Super Bowl champion as a coordinator," Colbert said Monday. "He's been a successful head coach with winning seasons. I'm sure there are things that he can add to our team."
Colbert says Mike Tomlin handles the hiring of his staff, but there are times Colbert will provide input.
"He will come to me at different times and ask me about so-and-so, do you know anything about him," Colbert said. "Could you find out some things about him?"
"When he brought Coach Flores name up as a potential, I was excited about it. Coach Flores, he's a successful defensive coordinator and head coach. The thing that is really intriguing about Brian is he has a background in the personnel world. I'm excited to get with him and see what kinds of ideas he can bring us both from a coaching viewpoint as well as a personnel viewpoint."
Flores didn't start as a coach for the Patriots. When his potential pro career at linebacker was sidetracked due to injury, New England hired him as a pro scout. It was two years later where he became a special teams coaching assistant and has been a coach ever since.
Flores is obviously suing three teams in the league as well as the Dolphins on two separate matters. Colbert said he wasn't in the loop in the conversations between Tomlin and team president Art Rooney when making the hire.
Did the Steelers make any statement by hiring Flores?
"I think it says that we hired a very good, quality defensive coach that can maybe help us win games, beyond that there is nothing much more to say," Colbert said.
"He's been a successful defensive coordinator, Super Bowl champion as a coordinator. He's been a successful head coach with winning seasons. I'm sure there are things that he can add to our team."
