Wasting no time in replacing departed long-time defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, the Pittsburgh Steelers promoted defensive assistant Keith Butler to the position Tuesday.
“It’s the thrill of a lifetime for me,” Butler said in a Q&A on the Steelers website. “This is a dream come true for me, and it would be for a lot of people. I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
The former linebackers coach agreed to a three-year deal. Butler first worked with Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin since the two were assistants at the University of Memphis in 1996.
“Keith has been an integral part of our defensive game planning and schemes for several years and we look forward to him moving into the role of calling the defense,” Tomlin said in a statement. “His passion and energy will be important to us taking the next steps to being one of the top defenses in the NFL.”
Under Butler, the Steelers probably won’t make any major scheme changes, but will need to upgrade and get younger at many defensive positions.
“I would consider myself a whatever-it-takes-to-win guy,” Butler said. “If it’s a 3-4, that’s fine, if that fits your players. I think you have to be able to fit your defense around the players you have. With what offenses are doing nowadays in the National Football League, they’re playing a lot of three wide receivers and a tight end and a running back, for the most part. In those situations, we’re going to be in kind of a 4-3 anyway, but we’re still going to be able to run the 3-4 also. It gives you a little bit more versatility, I think.”
The Arizona Cardinals have already reached out to LaBeau in case they need a new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN.
