Steelers Dick LeBeau out as team's defensive coordinator

Dick LeBeau out as defensive coordinator. Says he and #Steelers have agreed to mutually part ways: "Time to go in a different direction."

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) January 10, 2015

Post Gazette reporter Gerry Dulac reported Saturday afternoon the Steelers and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau have mutually agreed to part ways. LeBeau has been the team's defensive coordinator since 2004.

The news was initially reported by Steve Stout of the Urban Citizen.

A sagging defense over the past few years have begun to take its toll on a team that now has a high-powered offense. While the team's run defense improved over the course of this season, and took a huge step forward after 2013, the team's pass defense, particularly its pass rush, has fallen off.

It's often been said LeBeau would retire when he felt it was time to move on, and perhaps it was his choice.

It's said Keith Butler, the team's linebackers coach for the last 12 seasons, will succeed him, but no word on that has been released yet.

More to follow...