 LeBeau (center) during Super Bowl XLIII parade in February 2009 | |||||
| No. 24, 44 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Cornerback | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | September 9, 1937 London, Ohio, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | London | ||||
| College: | Ohio State (1956–1958) | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1959 / round: 5 / pick: 58 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| As a player: | |||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| As a coach: | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
| Coaching stats at PFR | |||||
Charles Richard LeBeau (/ləˈboʊ/ lə-BOH; born September 9, 1937) is an American former professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) He was active at field level in the NFL for 59 consecutive seasons, 14 playing as a cornerback with the Detroit Lions and 45 as a coach.[1] LeBeau spent the majority of his coaching career as a defensive assistant, most notably as the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. Described as an "innovator" and "defensive football genius",[2][3] he is considered to be one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time.[4]
LeBeau played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 1959 NFL draft before signing with the Lions, where he was named to three Pro Bowls. Upon retiring as a player in 1972, LeBeau began his coaching career the following season as the special teams coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and landed his first defensive role as the Green Bay Packers' defensive backs coach in 1976. He joined the Bengals in 1980, where he spent 19 non-consecutive years, including 12 years as defensive coordinator. During his first stint as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator, LeBeau popularized the "zone blitz", which helped the Bengals make two Super Bowl appearances in Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXIII. He also served as the Bengals' head coach from 2000 to 2002, his sole head coaching position.
In between his two stints with Cincinnati, LeBeau began a defensive assistant tenure for the Steelers in 1992 and rejoined them in 2004 after one season as the Buffalo Bills' assistant head coach. His time in Pittsburgh spanned 16 non-consecutive years, holding the position of defensive coordinator for 13 years. LeBeau helped the Steelers make four Super Bowl appearances as their defensive coordinator, winning Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII during his second stint. After leaving the Steelers for the second time in 2014, LeBeau served as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Tennessee Titans until 2017. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2010.
- ^ Domowitch, Paul (January 28, 2009). "Unassuming LeBeau has respect of blitzing Steelers defense". Philadelphia Daily News.
- ^ Gosselin, Rick (January 30, 2009). "Steelers' LeBeau deserves spot in Hall of Fame". Dallas Morning News.
- ^ Kragthorpe, Kurt (January 29, 2009). "Steelers' LeBeau knows defense". Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009.
- ^ Brubach, Holly (January 8, 2009). "After the Zone Blitz, the Deadpan Defense". The New York Times.