Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau doesn’t think age is a problem with the team’s defense. He also doesn’t think his own age is a problem.
According to Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, LeBeau said Thursday that he wants to return for another season.
“I’ve been blessed to be able to coach this long, and I want to coach, obviously. Because I am a coach,” said the 76-year-old Hall of Famer. “Again, we’ll have to see if people want you to coach.”
There has been no indication that the team may want to go in another direction. Other than LeBeau’s repeated vague suggestion that perhaps the team does.
“This is the time only to think about our players and getting them better,” LeBeau said “But I feel great. I feel strong, and we’ll see if people want you to come back.”
LeBeau has been running the Steelers defense since 2004. Even after Mike Tomlin, who proved himself as a 4-3 Tampa Two defensive specialist, arrived as head coach, Tomlin stuck with LeBeau’s effective 3-4 attack. And Robinson has collected quotes from various players who rave about LeBeau.
Still, after one 8-8 season and another that will at best match it, change could be coming to Pittsburgh. Only one change -- getting rid of Tomlin -- would raise more eyebrows than not bringing back LeBeau.