Defensive co-ordinator Dick LeBeau and the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to part ways Saturday. In an interview with the Urbana (Ohio) Daily Citizen, LeBeau said that he is “resigning this position, not retiring” and that he “had a great run in Pittsburgh.”
ESPN.com reported that LeBeau wanted to return to the Steelers for his twelfth season in his second stint with the Steelers in 2015, but that he is “OK” with leaving and “ready for what happens next.” LeBeau was not sure if any team would be interested in him, but reiterated that he was “not retiring.”
LeBeau was one of the most legendary defense coordinators in the NFL and the architect of the “zone blitz” that has been copied by nearly every defense in the NFL in the past twenty years. LeBeau was also the Steelers defensive coordinator for their last four Super Bowl teams resulting in two Super Bowl championships.
LeBeau has spent 56 consecutive years in the NFL: 14 as a player for the Detroit Lions and 42 as a coach for five NFL teams. His players loved him and often expressed their loyalty to him. According to NFL statistics for yards allowed, LeBeau coached Steelers defenses were ranked number one five times and in the top five 10 times.
However, in the last two seasons, Steelers slipped to 13th and 18th for yards allowed and 27th and 23rd for takeaways. By the high standard for Steeler defenses set by LeBeau himself, it was probably time for a change.
The successor to LeBeau is most likely linebackers coach Keith Butler. Butler has been with the Steelers since 2003 and denied opportunities to interview with other teams for open defensive coordinator positions. Butler would theoretically provide the continuity that the Steelers cherish with the LeBeau era, but may also bring some fresh ideas to help invigorate what is still a competitive defense with both aging veterans and inexperienced, but talented, younger players.
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