Last week, Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau twice mentioned that, while he wants to return to the team in 2014, “we’ll see if people want you back.”
Since then, the Steelers have twice declined to discuss LeBeau’s status.
On Friday, Tomlin told Scott Brown of ESPN.com that Tomlin won’t talk about offseason issues until the offseason. On Sunday, the Steelers declined comment on the question of whether LeBeau is under contract for 2014.
“We do not discuss any terms of contracts,” the team told PFT via email.
LeBeau’s contract expired after the 2010 season, which culminated in a Super Bowl loss to the Packers. It’s unknown whether his current deal will be expiring after the 2013 season ends.
Even if it isn’t, the Steelers could decide to move on. If they do, it could make plenty of the defensive players under contract with the team extremely upset. Multiple members of LeBeau’s defense have spoken out in his favor in recent days.
Maybe the Steelers eventually will announce that LeBeau has retired. And maybe he’ll go on to be the coach of the year the next season, just like the last coordinator the team tried to retire.