LeBeau, Steelers agree to part
PITTSBURGH — Dick LeBeau, one of the most revered defensive coordinators in the NFL who is regarded as the architect of the zone blitz that is copied by so many other teams, has agreed to mutually part ways with the Steelers.
LeBeau just completed his 11th season in his second tour of duty with the Steelers, but he was asked to resign after meeting for several days with coach Mike Tomlin.
“I'm resigning, I'm not retiring,” LeBeau said in an interview with the Post-Gazette after the story was first reported by the Urbana (Ohio) Daily Citizen. “It was a lot of great days, a lot of great years. It's time to go in a different direction.”
During his tenure with the Steelers, LeBeau's defense ranked No. 1 overall in the league five times and in the top five 10 times.
The likely successor to LeBeau is linebackers coach Keith Butler, who has been with the team since 2003 and been given several indications over the years he will be the next defensive coordinator.
The Steelers have blocked opportunities for Butler to interview with other teams by increasing his pay and giving him a three-year contract when most other assistant coaches get two-year deals.
“It happens,” said LeBeau, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who spent 56 years in the league as a player and coach “It's like I'm starting brand new. In this business you can end up in that position.”
LeBeau said he did not know if he will continue to coach in the NFL.
“I don't even know, but I'm not retiring,” LeBeau said. “There might not be anyone interested.”
The 77-year-old LeBeau had been with the organization for 16 seasons, including serving as defensive coordinator from 1995-96 and from 2004-14. He was also the team's secondary coach from 1992-94.
He was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
In his 13 years as defensive coordinator, the Steelers have finished in the top five in total defense 11 times and five times the team had the top overall ranked defense. The team won seven division championships, four AFC championships and two Super Bowls, while making the playoffs nine times during that period.
“We want to thank Dick for his many years of service with the team and all that he has done for this organization,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “His coaching helped lead us to many successful seasons and championships. We are very appreciative of his efforts, and we wish him well.”
As a player, LeBeau had 62 interceptions in 14 seasons as defensive back for the Detroit Lions from 1959-72. He played halfback and cornerback for Woody Hayes at Ohio State.
LeBeau was 12-33 as Cincinnati's head coach from 2000-02. He began his coaching career as a special teams coach with Philadelphia in 1973. He also was an assistant with Green Bay, Cincinnati and Buffalo.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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