3 successful rebuilds Steelers should learn from

Rebuilds for Steelers to learn from: Indianapolis Colts: 1998-2006

It’s easy to say the Colts worked out because Peyton Manning arrived. But Marvin Harrison and Tarik Glenn were already there. Yet for years, even with Manning, the postseason was a failing ground. In 1999, the team went 13-3 but lost to Steve McNair and the Tennessee Titans, but the 1998 draft brought Manning and Jeff Saturday, yes, the same one we know, joined the Colts as a UDFA, and 1999 brought Edgerrin James. 2001 was when Reggie Wayne and Ryan Diem joined the crew.

Dwight Freeny joined the team in 2002, and 2003 brought Dallas Clark, Cato June, and Robert Mathis into the equation. Bob Sanders and Jake Scott arrived in 2004. Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden arrived in 05. In 2006, the final pieces arrived in Joseph Addai, Antoine Bethea, and Tim Jennings.

A couple of minor trades were made throughout the process, but on a rainy night in Miami, the Colts stood atop the NFL world. It was a long process, but it finally came through, and ultimately, the job was finished. The Steelers would prefer to have a shorter process with the same result of winning, but sometimes, that’s just how the breaks fall.

What to learn from Colts rebuild: It takes patience and the right draft philosophy to ensure that success is sustained for a period of time