With Al Groh opting to become the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, the Tuna’s team is still looking for a successor to Paul Pasqualoni.
And they’ll have to keep looking.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler received an offer to become the Dolphins defensive coordinator, and Butler declined.
Butler, per the Post-Gazette, is regarded as the favorite to succeed Dick LeBeau, when he eventually retires as defensive coordinator of the Steelers.
This happened about a week ago in ‘Florio-time’….
When he eventually retires?! Assuming Tomlin still has the job as head coach!
Wow. Good call Keith. Miami – loads of upside. Steelers – potentially in position to have to rebuild.
Better to be the uniform man in Pittsburgh than a Defensive Coordinator in Miami
they should stay in house and promote Todd Bowles and hire a secondary coach to replace him
A dumb decision when it comes to climate. A smart decision when it comes to just about everything else.
If the Dolphins wait a week Wade Phillips will be available.
Awesome, but if he is waiting on lebeau it might be a while. I know the guy is around 73 but he still looks like a 40-year old and has not slowed down at all.
I think Butler takes over for LeBeau after next season
Its never good when your top two choices say no. I was hoping for Butler.
What a foolish career decision. What’s that famous saying about “a bird in a hand”?
Butler has no way of knowing if Mike Tomlin is even going to have his job a year from now, let alone whether LeBeau will retire or not. If Tomlin gets the axe that he narrowly escaped this year, any new HC will surely want his own DC.
Could have had a solid job with Parcells and an organization looking for results.
The Butler DIDN’T do it!
Steelers don’t rebuild, they reload. Miami makes the playoffs like 3 times out of a decade. The Steelers miss the playoffs 3 years out of a decade. But hey, don’t let facts get in the way a of a stupid point, right grandavenue?
@grandavenue
What upside is there on the Dolphins defense??? They have no one there that even comes close to either Woodley or Timmons.
Why would anyone want to be belittled on a daily basis by Parcel? Even if the weather is nice!
@Tomthebombtracy
Ha!
just cause tomlin gets canned doesnt mean lebeau goes anywhere. dick will outlast HCs as long as he wants to.
Perhaps Butler simply likes it in Pittsburgh? Every one I know from Pittsburgh loves it! Nonetheless, I think he should have accepted. Interesting that it was the Dolphins who were Sending out feelers for Butler.
Again as Mr. Stan Savran would say look at the clues…… Lebeau’s last year?
I am hoping Raheem Morris is out of a job in TB by the time LeBeau retires and Tomlin can hire his buddy to take over the defense…
To all the people saying if Tomlin is there…….
Noll won 1 game his first year, 5 his second and 6 his third.
Cowher had a three year stretch 98-00 where he won 7, 6 and 9.
The Steelers do not dump head coaches because of a few bad seasons. They hired Tomlin because they think he is the right guy. They will give him time to prove them right or wrong.
Butler is smart. He knows the Steelers love Lebeau and kept him through coaching changes, and must feel that they think the same of him.
What is it with all you morons out there who say “if Tomlin has a job.”
Seriously??
Even though this year was disappointing, they were 9-7…..same as the Ravens and Jets (and Pittsburgh is better than both of those teams). So let’s stop this nonsense about if “Tomlin has a job.”
Good move by Butler. I have a feeling that Coach LeBeau will ride into the sunset within the next year or two, especially when he makes it into the HOF this year.
I’ve been hearing crap about the Steelers have to “rebuild” for….what, 20 years now? With franchise players at every position (except O-Line), they are in fine shape to compete year in and year out.
Wake up people!!
Since the merger in 1966 the Steelers have 24 playoff appearances and the Dolphins have 22. Also since the merger until Don Shula retired the Dolphins had the highest winning percentage over that time period in the history of the NFL. Facts are so stupid.
Butler is probably waiting for Marvin Lewis’ job, or the Bengals could just keep him around for more first round eliminations from the playoffs.
@Richm2256 …
If anyone is likely to be gone in a year, it’s Parcells. The man does not stay long in one place … as you should know. And the reason Miami is looking for results is because they can’t seem to find any–at least not any that last.
Mike Tomlin was as close to getting the ax this year as I was. I’m self-employed.
@footballtalk247 …
Love that: We don’t rebuild. We reload.
hey footballtale 247, Since Super Bowl 1 Miami has made the playoffs 22 times, the Steelers 24. not that big of a gap.
maybe you should check your facts
All of you who think that Tomlin will be out of a job next year are just looking for something to trash the Steeler’s about.
Won’t happen. At all. Write it down. I will gladly eat crow if I am wrong. The guy is a top notch coach, and if any organization understands the importance of stability it is Pittsburgh.
Do not forget how awful Noll’s first few years were, until he got lucky in that one amazing draft class. We are too quick to judge, and our ADD addled minds demand instant satisfaction. A solid team is built, not bought (ask the Skins) and we have to allow Tomlin time to build his. That is why I wholeheartedly agree with what McDaniels was/is doing in Denver. He is looking long term, while most of you on here want success now, and when you don’t get it you cry about the refs. That means you Ravens and Pack fans. Oh, Vikes fans too, but you don’t cry long because your busy stuffing 4′s rod back in your mouth.
@stnmmc …
Agree about Tomlin and crying fans, but Noll got lucky. LUCKY??
Baby, that wasn’t luck. It was skill. That team wasn’t built in one draft but several. Noll had scouts going to little podunk schools where scouts had never gone before. The man was a football strategist. Brilliant tactician. Great teacher.
His first year, they went 1-13, but it was a steady progression each year: 4th place, 3rd, 2nd, 1st. He won the division his fourth year–the first of eight consecutive division titles. He’s the only coach to win four Super Bowls.
Luck? Noooo.
When he eventually retires?! Assuming Tomlin still has the job as head coach!
Wow. Good call Keith. Miami – loads of upside. Steelers – potentially in position to have to rebuild.
Are you f@#king kidding me? The core of the steelers is as good or better than any team in the playoffs. They have some supporting cast players that need replaced. They won’t be rebuilding son. When you have a top QB you’re half way home. Loads of upside??? With Miami. Could I have some of your drugs??
Dolphins haven’t been a serious contender for almost 20 years — 1992 was the last time they were even in a conf championship game. They’re clearly in the second tier (at best) of consistently good franchises.
During that same period, Steelers have been in 7 conf championship games and won 2 Super Bowls.
Not even close; Butler made a smart, calculated decision to stay with a consistent winning program.
Even though this year was disappointing, they were 9-7…..same as the Ravens and Jets (and Pittsburgh is better than both of those teams). So let’s stop this nonsense about if “Tomlin has a job.”
======================================
Really? Your team, which is sitting on the couch this weekend to watch the games, is better than 2 playoff teams that both won their first round games? Jesus. You are the typical Steeler fan: completely delusional and can’t accept the truth about your team. They sucked this year and didn’t make the playoffs because of a losing streak that includes the Chiefs, Browns, and Raiders. Before you go flinging comparisons to playoff teams around, how about your team makes it first. Maybe even beating the basement dwellers will solidify your argument.
Steeler fans are possibly the hardest fans in the world to stomach. I bet if we were to get into an in depth conversation about this year, I would hear nothing but excuses for why it wasn’t the Steelers fault they didn’t make the playoffs. It was the weather, the refs, the ball, the stadium’s field blah blah blah blah.
But hey, your team is better than any other one in the league.
Haha, because the amount of times you have been in the playoffs since Superbowl 1 is the standard?
Let me ask you this, how many times have the Steelers won the Superbowl since the first one?
Thats why they call it Sixburgh!
Dolphins aint shite and Butler knows it.
“Love that: We don’t rebuild. We reload. ”
Until you realize that catchphrase was stolen from the Raiders like so many other modern day catchphrases.
*cough*Steeler Nation*cough*
He had enough of Joey Porter.
@possessed …
Well, that’s the thing about catchphrases. Everyone uses them. Of course, the Steelers have been in the playoffs about 66 percent of their last 18 seasons. So that would indicate that we are reloading far more than we’re rebuilding.
How about the Raiders?
@Tomthebombtracy …
Losing Joey was the right player personnel decision, but the Steelers still love him.
Yeah, we lost to those teams but didn’t the Steelers beat you week 17? rip Pat White btw.
There is no upside to the Dolphins. The team consists of a bunch of overachievers with a strong lack of talent. Joey Porter and Jason Taylor are ancient. Tedd Ginn can’t catch and most people can’t name any of your other receivers. Henne is meh. When comparing both teams, is there honestly one play you’d rather have that’s on the Dolphins outside offensive line?
Steelers aren’t half the franchise that the Bengals are and all you yinzers know it.
Did anyone think the reason why Butler turned it down was one simple fact . They didnt offer enough money . When you go to a less than good team you gotta pay more . Ask the Redskins .
I dont think its because of Lebeau is retiring soon . If Butler knew he was getting the Steelers job then why even go interview ? Gotta use commonsense sometimes when it comes to coaching changes .
@ DanRooney:
Yeah the Steelers beat the Fins in week 17. What’s your point?
My point is that Steeler fans are the only ones in the league (except your kindred spirit Patriot fans) that would talk trash after their team was eliminated.
“The team might not have won/made the playoffs, but their still better than anyone in the league.”
I think when you guys make it known that you are going to root for the Steelers, some government organization sneaks into your rooms at night and removes all logic. As Steeler fans, you won’t need it anyway, because you’ll just live in a constant state of denial.
My Fins absolutely blew it this year. I can say that. I’d like to see a Steeler fan even lip sync those words. His/her head would probably explode.
Completely. Delusional.
@WeMissYouDan …
I get so tired of doing this because people like you only pay attention to a handful of Steelers fans and lump us all together … sigh …
We absolutely blew it this year, WMYD. Yes, we finished 9-7, with the same record as the two AFC Wild Card teams. And yes, we lost six of those games by less than a touchdown and the seventh by a touchdown. But I don’t care. We absolutely blew it.
We returned virtually all of our starters and our entire coaching staff from a Super Bowl-winning squad. Last year, we won the championship playing the most difficult schedule the NFL had doled out in more than 30 years. This year, we had one of the easiest. We managed to beat Super Bowl favorites but couldn’t beat the Browns, Raiders, and Chiefs. Yes, we beat the Dolphins. They were playing, what, their fourth-string QB? And they still managed to mount a comeback drive.
Yes, we lost Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith. But no team should fall apart with the loss of any one or two players, except perhaps the starting QB. And given what Matt Cassel managed last year, I don’t know if even that is an excuse.
Many things are to blame for our failures. I expect them to be corrected in the off-season. I expect us to recover next year. I think Tomlin is a talented coach, and wouldn’t want anyone else at the helm. But this year, we blew it. And though I love the Steelers and am proud of the way they ended the season, I’d be a fool to say otherwise.
My head is still intact.
Yooo. WeMissYouDan…
Steeler fan from birth . We sucked this year . No claiming to be the best this season . Can give a long list of reasons why we sucked . But in the end we sucked and didnt play good enough to make the playoffs .
See you next season .
To CarsontoOcho:
You said “Steelers aren’t half the franchise that the Bengals are”
Well, I tend to agree with you in a certain respect. Bengals are completely overrated, and the Steelers are not close to being that much overrated, even by those who think they are overrated. The Bengals had a wonderful year in that they won their 2 Super Bowls in one year by beating the Steelers twice. That might happen again when hell freezes over. Enjoy it this year, and we will see you next year.
I love how things get out of proportion in here,it was the story of our LB coach who declined to join the Dolphins and now suddenly it’s all about steelers fans being in state of denial and all that crap.
What do you guys expect ? Because you think there is no dumbass fans in Miami ? There are as many dumb fans in any fanbase of the NFL period.
And I dont care what fans from other teams will say about some stupid retard that claim to be Steelers fans.I know that most of us are a great nation of good fans loyal and respectful that would not use stupid and lame excuses as ”The ref stole that one from us” or anything.
Now if you’re trying to find jackass fans to prove your point you wont have any problems finding some,you should try to search the message boards site you will get plenty of them.
Go Steelers
The only way Tomlin will not be the coach is if his ego gets too big like his predecessor. Which makes this disturbing. Perhaps Butler is the handpicked puppet coordinator thru which Tomlin will run the defense and install the 4-3 Tampa 2.
@WeMissYouDan:
Thanks for wasting everybody’s time with your pointless post.
@runtheball …
Huh????
Things change–that’s life. One day LeBeau will retire. And yes, the new defensive coordinator will execute the plans of the head coach. That’s not puppetry–it’s serving your employer. One day, we’ll shift away from the 3/4 just as we shifted away from the 4/3 Noll ran during the Dynasty days. And yes, we may go to the Tampa-2. But if we do, it will be because our head coach and defensive coordinator think that’s the best direction to take in order to keep winning. Tomlin might have already done that but our personnel made it more advantageous to run the 3/4 zone-blitz pkgs we already were running. And we use some cover-2 formations now.
It’s not some weird conspiracy. Get a grip. And if it makes you feel better, Dungy credits Chuck Noll as the inspiration for his Tampa-2 schemes. It’s all coming full circle.