Longtime Steelers’ linebackers coach Keith Butler is going to interview in Indianapolis for the Colts open defensive coordinator position, Ed Bouchette reports.
Butler has been the team’s linebackers coach since 2003 and was a key factor in all of the Steelers recent Super Bowl wins. He’s long been considered the favorite to take over as Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator when Dick LeBeau retires. Butler has actually turned down a few opportunities to become defensive coordinator elsewhere, most recently two years ago when the Dolphins came calling.
With LeBeau showing no signs of slowing down and two friends already in Indianapolis (Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians), this opportunity looks like it might be the one that lures Butler away from Pittsburgh. The trio coached together in Cleveland once upon a time.
He’s a great coach and certainly deserves to be a coordinator in the NFL.
Update:
Adam Schefter and numerous others are reporting that an agreement has been reached and Butler is now the defensive coordinator in Indianapolis. AS BTST wrote, Steelers envy is running rampant in the midwest.
This leaves Pittsburgh and Mike Tomlin with 2 huge coaching hires this offseason. Assuming LeBeau retires in the next couple of years, the defensive coordinator search will be wide open now too.
Update 2:
Another wild turn in the Keith Butler sweepstakes. Butler will now remain with the Steelers after meeting with Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin this afternoon. It’s obvious that Butler must have gotten some kind of hint on Dick LeBeau’s retirement. Very glad he will be staying in town.
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