It’s been all quiet on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff front. But around the league, plenty of ex-Steelers are getting shuffled around. Yesterday, the Tennessee Titans promoted Dick LeBeau to defensive coordinator. LeBeau will also carry the title of assistant head coach.
LeBeau replaces Ray Horton, also an ex-Steelers’ coach, who left to become the defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns. The long-time Steelers’ defensive coordinator was let go by the team last year and lined up with the Titans in February of 2015.
LeBeau, who popularized the zone blitz, spent two stints with the Steelers. 1992 to 1996 as the defensive backs coach and eventually defensive coordintor. He returned in 2004 to 2014 as the defensive coordinator. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2010, and the entire Steelers’ team traveled with him to watch the induction.
The aforementioned Horton and running backs coach Kirby Wilson were hired by the Browns yesterday. The Titans also hired Bobby April to be their special teams’ coach. April spent part of the 1990s with the Steelers.
As we’ve written several times, the Steelers’ coaching staff is expected to be unchanged, something Mike Tomlin advocated for at his final press conference yesterday. Should it stay intact, it would mark the first time since the 2007 and 2008 seasons there was no turnover with the core group of coaches, coordinators and positional. A large chunk of the turnover has come along the offensive line. The team has gone from Larry Zierlein to Sean Kugler to Jack Bicknell Jr before finally landing on Mike Munchak.
