Steelers Bringing Back Familiar Face as Scouting Department Continues Overhaul
The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing a familiar name back into the fold, adding veteran scout Tim Gribble to their scouting department, according to league sources. While his official role hasn’t been confirmed yet, the move adds another experienced voice to a front office that’s been evolving steadily under general manager Omar Khan.
Gribble is no stranger to the NFL grind. He spent the last 24 seasons with the Washington Commanders, climbing the scouting ranks and serving the last five years as their director of college personnel. That’s a tenure that speaks volumes - you don’t last nearly a quarter-century in one front office without earning a serious level of trust and respect.
Before his promotion in 2020, Gribble spent 16 years as an area scout for Washington, logging the miles, watching the tape, and helping shape draft boards year after year. That kind of long-haul experience is invaluable, especially in a league where scouting continuity and institutional knowledge can make all the difference when it comes to draft day decisions.
But for Gribble, this is more than just a new job - it’s a homecoming.
He got his start in NFL scouting with the Steelers back in 2000, spending two seasons with the organization before heading to Washington. He also played his college ball at Duquesne, where he was a fullback from 1992 to 1996.
After his playing days, he stayed with the program as a coach, working on special teams and both sides of the ball - defensive line from 1996-98 and running backs from 1998-2000. And with roots in Brownsville, Pennsylvania - just 35 miles south of Pittsburgh - this move brings Gribble back to his Western PA roots.
As it stands, Dan Colbert is the Steelers' director of college scouting, and Mark Sadowski oversees player scouting. Gribble’s role in the department hasn’t been specified yet, but adding someone with his résumé only strengthens a front office that’s been reshaped significantly since Khan took over in May 2022.
This isn’t just a one-off move either. The Steelers have been methodically retooling their scouting infrastructure.
Assistant GM Andy Weidl, who joined the team alongside Khan in 2022, has been a key figure in that process - particularly when it comes to scouting and the draft. Weidl even interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons’ general manager job this past week, a sign that Pittsburgh’s front office talent is getting noticed around the league.
And with the draft always looming large in the NFL calendar, Gribble's arrival comes at a crucial time. According to Over The Cap’s Nick Korte, the Steelers are projected to receive multiple compensatory picks this year - a third-rounder for offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr., a fourth for quarterback Justin Fields, and two sixth-rounders for Russell Wilson and Donte Jackson. That’s four extra swings in the draft, and having a seasoned scout like Gribble in the room only improves the odds of hitting on those picks.
For a franchise that prides itself on stability but isn’t afraid to evolve, this is a move that fits the mold - bringing in a trusted voice with deep ties to the organization, the region, and the game itself.