Dick LeBeau Wants to Stay, Will the Steelers Keep Him?

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

"He [Dick LeBeau] brings energy every day, (especially) for a guy that is his age and has been doing it for as long as he has, […] It’s got to motivate you, just to play for a guy like him, a Hall of Fame coach.–Jarvis Jones (via Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)"

Even though he will turn 77-years old by the time the 2014 regular season starts, Dick LeBeau apparently wants to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator next fall according to Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

As one of the most successful defensive coordinators in the history of the league, I cannot blame LeBeau for wanting to stick around on Pittsburgh’s staff for at least another year. He has been a coach at the professional level for the last 41 seasons, and is still focused on improving his defensive unit which has slipped a bit this season:

"This is the time only to think about our players and getting them better, […] But I feel great, I feel strong, and we’ll see if people want you to come back."

Whether or not the Steelers will bring LeBeau back for another season is still in doubt, but I have to believe that the front office will allow the long-time assistant to leave the game on his own terms. You know, not completely botch the situation or treat him with the same type of disrespect they showed the much-maligned Bruce Arians two years ago.

I will certainly be intrigued to see what happens in Pittsburgh if LeBeau stays for another season, specifically to see what will become of longtime linebackers coach Keith Butler.

Pittsburgh’s assumed defensive coordinator in-waiting, Butler has turned down job offers from Arizona, Miami and Indianapolis during the last five  to stay with the Steelers as LeBeau’s eventual replacement. How much longer Butler will stick around if LeBeau continues his stay is undetermined. However, the fact that Butler almost left Pittsburgh for Indianapolis two years ago has to weigh heavily on the minds of Pittsburgh’s brass.

With LeBeau wanting to stay and those in charge likely to let him, I am actually more interested to see what happens with Butler during the upcoming offseason.

Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com , Spotrac, and Pro Football Reference

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