PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler has knowledgeable the workforce he’s retiring, the workforce introduced Saturday night.
“It’s an emotional day as I announce I’m retiring from my soccer teaching profession,” Butler mentioned in an announcement. “I’ve spent yearly since 1990 as a coach within the NFL and the NCAA, however the time is true for me to stroll away after a profitable profession each taking part in and training the sport I like.”
Butler, 65, has been with the Steelers group for 19 years and took over for Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator in 2015 after 12 seasons because the linebackers coach.
Butler additionally spent 4 seasons because the Cleveland Browns’ linebackers coach, and he and head coach Mike Tomlin labored collectively on the Memphis defensive employees in 1996.
Earlier than his teaching profession, Butler performed linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks for 10 years from 1978-87.
As defensive coordinator, Butler continued the group’s custom of a dominant cross rush. The Steelers have led the league in sacks every season since 2017. In 2021, the Steelers paced everybody with 55 workforce sacks, and T.J. Watt tied Michael Strahan’s 2001 NFL single-season sack report with 22.5.
The Steelers protection, although, took a step again in 2021 and sometimes struggled towards the run. The group allowed a league-worst 2,483 dashing yards and 5 yards per carry.
One possibility to interchange Butler is probably going Steelers senior defensive assistant and secondary coach Teryl Austin, who was employed by the group in January 2019. Austin additionally served because the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2014-17 and for a season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.
Supply: ESPN
