Dick LeBeau is a former American football player and coach who had an illustrious career in the National Football League (NFL) spanning 59 consecutive seasons. Initially a player for 14 seasons, LeBeau later transitioned into coaching and worked with various NFL teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Buffalo Bills. Known for his exceptional skills as a defensive back, LeBeau played a significant role in the success of the Detroit Lions. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time, credited with popularizing the defensive tactic known as the “zone blitz.” In recognition of his contributions to the sport, LeBeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Charles Richard LeBeau
- Age: 86 Years, 86 Year Old Males
- Born Country: United States
- Coaches
- American Football Players
- Height: 6’1″ (185 cm), 6’1″ Males
- U.S. State: Ohio
- Education: Ohio State University
Childhood & Early Life
Dick LeBeau was born Charles Richard Dick LeBeau on September 9, 1937, in Ohio. He attended the ‘London High School,’ Ohio. He later attended the ‘Ohio State University,’ where he played football under the renowned coach Woody Hayes.
Career
Dick LeBeau was part of the 1957 ‘Ohio State University’ football team that won the national championship. He played as a halfback on offense and cornerback on defense. In 1959, LeBeau was drafted by the ‘Cleveland Browns’ for the ‘National Football League,’ but his name was removed from the team during the training period. He was later drafted by the ‘Detroit Lions’ and remained with the team for 14 consecutive seasons. LeBeau is considered one of the greatest defensive backs to have played for the team.
He played 185 matches for the ‘Detroit Lions,’ recording 62 interceptions for 762 yards and 3 touchdowns. LeBeau was selected for the ‘Pro Bowl’ for three consecutive years and earned the ‘All-Pro Second Team’ honor thrice. His best season as a player was 1970, where he recorded 9 interceptions for 96 yards. After the 1972 season, LeBeau retired as a player.
Following his retirement as a player, LeBeau started his career as a football coach. He served as a special teams coach for the ‘Philadelphia Eagles’ under coach Mike McCormack for three seasons. He then coached the secondary team for the ‘Green Bay Packers’ in 1976. In 1980, he was appointed as the secondary coach for the ‘Cincinnati Bengals’ and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1984. In 1992, he was hired as the secondary coach for the ‘Pittsburgh Steelers’ and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1995. Under his guidance, the team’s defense ranked third in the league and they were selected for the ‘Super Bowl’ in 1995. LeBeau returned to the ‘Cincinnati Bengals’ as their defensive coordinator in 1997 and popularized the defensive technique of ‘zone blitz.’ In 2000, he was appointed as the interim head coach for the ‘Cincinnati Bengals’ and later became the permanent head coach. However, he was removed as the head coach after the 2002 season.
Following his exit from the ‘Cincinnati Bengals,’ LeBeau was appointed as the assistant head coach for the ‘Buffalo Bills.’ He then returned to the ‘Pittsburgh Steelers’ as their defensive coordinator in 2004 and remained in the position until 2014. Under his leadership, the team made three appearances in ‘Super Bowl’ matches, winning two.
In 2008, Dick LeBeau was named the ‘Coordinator of the Year’ by the sports news website ‘Sporting News.’ He was inducted into the 2010 class of the ‘Pro Football Hall of Fame.’ In 2015, LeBeau resigned from the ‘Pittsburgh Steelers.’ He was later hired by the ‘Tennessee Titans’ as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator. However, he was not appointed in the new coaching staff under head coach Mike Vrabel. LeBeau is currently leading a retired life.
Family & Personal Life
Dick LeBeau has been married twice. His first wife was Phyllis Geer LeBeau, with whom he had four children: Richard Jr., Linda, Lori, and Fe. Phyllis passed away in 2002. In 1973, LeBeau married Nancy, with whom he has a son named Brandon Grant LeBeau. Apart from football, LeBeau is interested in music, golf, and dancing. He is known for keeping a cool temperament while coaching and recites the poem ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ to his players before every Christmas. In 2019, he was inducted into the ‘Buckeye Boys State Hall of Fame.’