Pittsburgh Steelers: Dick LeBeau Resigns As Defensive Coordinator
By Larry Snyder
There is a changing of the guard on the sideline in Pittsburgh. It has been reported by Steve Stout of the Urbana Daily Citizen in Ohio that Steelers’ defensive coordinator and Hall of Fame member Dick LeBeau has resigned and will not be back for the 2015 campaign.
The parting of the ways was mutual and has been confirmed by Scott Brown of ESPN, Jim Corbett of USA Today, and Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette.
LeBeau, 77, was the defensive coordinator for the Black and Gold from 1995-1996 and then returned to serve a second time from 2004-2014. As the originator of the 3-4 zone-blitz scheme, his defenses claimed No. 1 rankings five times. He helped to guide the team to two Super Bowl championships in 2005 and 2008.
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The accomplishments do not end there. In his 13 seasons as Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator, the team won seven division championships and four AFC Championships, while making the playoffs a total of nine times. LeBeau has been with the organization for a total of 16 seasons. He was the the secondary coach from 1992-1994.
However, the defense took a step back as it finished 13th overall in 2014. It was ninth against the pass and 21st against the run.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement on the team web site, “We want to thank Dick for his many years of service with the team and all that he has done for this organization, His coaching helped lead us to many successful seasons and championships. We are very appreciative of his efforts, and we wish him well.”
His coaching career included stops with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973-1975, the Green Bay Packers in 1976-1979, the Cincinnati Bengals from 1980-1991 and again in 1997-2002, and the Buffalo Bills in 2003.
In his Hall of Fame career, LeBeau is one of six players in National Football League history to have 60 interceptions over a 12-year span. His total of 62 career interceptions ranks seventh all time. He remains one of just 12 players in the history of the NFL, and the only one in Detroit Lions’ history, to return a fumble and an interception for touchdown in the same game. He was enshrined in August 2010.
The speculation across the media is that linebackers coach Keith Butler is expected to take over for LeBeau while defensive assistant Jerry Olsavsky may move into Butler’s role.