The Steelers recently made three promotions of their front office (via InsideTheLeague’s Neil Stratton), including a brand new role for longtime executive Sheldon White.
White, 61, is a former Giants, Lions, and Bengals cornerback who retired in 1993. He has been in Pittsburgh since 2022, first because the director of professional scouting and now as a senior personnel executive.
White began his front office profession as a scout in Detroit in 1997. He was promoted to director of player personnel in 2000 and vice chairman in 2009 with a temporary stint as interim general manager in 2015. White was considered for the Lions’ full-time GM gig, but lost out to Bob Quinn. He then spent 4 years at Michigan State, primarily as the manager director of player personnel and recruiting.. He also interviewed for the Raiders’ GM emptiness last yr, and extra success in Pittsburgh could keep him on the radar for future hiring cycles.
The Steelers also promoted Max Gruder from assistant director of player scouting to director of professional personnel. The previous Pitt linebacker spent one training camp with the Falcons in 2012 before retiring as a player and joining the Dolphins as a scouting assistant the next yr, per his LinkedIn. Gruder was promoted to pro scout in 2014 and remained in Miami until 2019, when he was hired because the Eagles’ assistant director of professional scouting. A promotion to director followed in 2022; two years later, he was poached by the Steelers.
Kelvin Fisher, one other ex-player, has been promoted from senior scouting assistant to senior national scout. The previous Jets and Cardinals fullback is in the midst of his second scouting stint in Pittsburgh. His first got here from 2000 to 2013, during which era the Steelers made the playoffs eight times, appeared in three Super Bowls, and won two. Fisher then moved to Buffalo because the Bills’ director of faculty scouting and returned to Pittsburgh in 2018. Draft hits during his time with the Steelers include franchise legends like Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger, and Cameron Heyward, in addition to newer stars like Alex Highsmith, Joey Porter Jr., and Nick Herbig.
Finally, the Steelers landed on a proper title for January hire Tim Gribble, who can be the senior director of faculty personnel.