HEADLINES

Keith Butler

Coach Updates: Spags, Quinn, LeBeau, Tucker

January 12th, 2015 at 6:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants will interview Ravens assistant (and former employee) Steve Spagnuolo for their defensive coordinator position this week, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Facebook link). Spagnuolo, 55, was New York’s DC from 2007-08. Per Schefter, the club also spoke with its own defensive backs coach, David Merritt, about the job. Here’s more news on the coaching front…

  • After parting ways with John Fox earlier today, the Broncos want to interview Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, tweets Schefter. Quinn is viewed as the favorite for the Jets head coaching position, and has also been linked to the vacancies in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco.
  • We heard earlier today that the Jets wanted to bring in Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles for a second interview, and now Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets that the meeting will take place on Wednesday, the same day Bowles will speak with the Falcons for a second time. The Atlanta interview will happen first, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
  • Cowboys offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Bill Callahan is a popular man, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). He’s drawing interest elsewhere, which could lead to a promotion of Scott Linehan. Bills head coach Rex Ryan is among those with interest, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).
  • LSU has been in contact with Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker about their opening at the same position, according to Ross Dellenger and Scott Rabalais of The Advocate. Tucker, who was rumored to be on the hot seat in Chicago, remains under contract with the team.
  • While ex-Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has discussed joining the Cardinals coaching staff (Twitter link via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), it will not be as DC, tweets Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910, who adds that LeBeau could be brought aboard in something of an advising capacity.
  • Meanwhile, the Steelers have not met with any outside candidates to replace LeBeau, meaning it’s increasingly likely that linebackers coach Keith Butler will be promoted to DC, writes Scott Brown of ESPN.com. Butler has been in his current role since 2003.
  • The Giants met with Washington secondary coach Raheem Morris on Friday about their open DC position, but will go in another direction, according to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 (Twitter link). Per Russini, Morris will now interview for Washington’s defensive coordinator job.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Sunday Roundup: Austin, Ravens, Steelers

January 11th, 2015 at 12:15pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a look at some links from around the league as Day 2 of the Divisional Round gets underway:

  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets that Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is also on the Bears‘ radar.
  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com provides an offseason outlook for the Bears.
  • Manish Metha of the New York Daily News tweets that the Jets, despite their heavy interest in Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, still want to interview Kubiak for their head coaching vacancy.
  • Rapoport tweets that Dick LeBeau‘s departure took the Steelers by surprise, and he adds (via Twitter) that LeBeau likely wanted to leave Pittsburgh with Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor, with whom he had established a close relationship.
  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, reiterating what he passed along yesterday, tweets that Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler, whom the Titans attempted to hire last season, is the most likely candidate to be elevated to defensive coordinator.
  • In a series of Baltimore items, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun writes that Ravens outside linebacker Pernell McPhee is expected to cash in on the free agent market and Steve Smith has no plans to retire.
  • Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer describes how the departure of Kyle Shanahan might impact the Browns‘ quarterback situation.
  • Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com writes that, with the Bills‘ hiring of Rex Ryan and the emergence of Dan Quinn as the frontrunner for the Jets head coaching vacancy, Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich may stay put in San Diego.
  • Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News tweets that, had the 49ers hired Ryan, Vic Fangio was likely to stay as the team’s defensive coordinator. However, now that Ryan has been hired by the Bills, Inman believes Fangio will be promoted to head coach. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, though, tweets that San Francisco will conduct a second interview with Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Dick LeBeau Resigns As Steelers DC

January 10th, 2015 at 7:27pm CST by Rob DiRe

7:27pm: The Steelers have officially announced LeBeau’s resignation in a press release.

“We want to thank Dick for his many years of service with the team and all that he has done for this organization,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in a statement. “His coaching helped lead us to many successful seasons and championships. We are very appreciative of his efforts, and we wish him well.”

4:04pm: Longtime Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will not return to the team in 2015, announcing his decision in the Urbana Daily Citizen in Ohio, according to Steve Stout.

The 77-year old coach has decided to resign, but says he is not retiring. “I’m resigning this position, not retiring,” LeBeau said. “I had a great run in Pittsburgh. I’m grateful for all the things that have happened to me and thankful for all the support I had in Pittsburgh.”

Lebeau spent the last 11 seasons with the Steelers, winning two Super Bowls and establishing himself as one of the most respected defensive coordinators ever. He played defensive back for the Lions, drafted in 1959, and his 62 interceptions rank him seventh all-time in NFL history.

As a coach, he is credited with inventing and perfecting the zone blitz, and although his head coaching career was short lived and unsuccessful, he has experienced great success as a coordinator with the Eagles, Packers, Bengals, and Steelers. LeBeau was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

The Steelers could promote linebackers coach Keith Butler to replace LeBeau, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The team has pegged him as a defensive coordinator in waiting for the past few years.