When Dick LeBeau returned to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers defense as defensive coordinator in 2004, it was one of the most important hires in the career of head coach Bill Cowher and changed the trajectory of both the Steelers defense and franchise into nearly becoming a dynasty in the 2000's.
Most people know that the Buffalo Bills were also bidding for the services of LeBeau, as he had served as assistant head coach for Buffalo in 2003 and was under the stewardship of head coach Mike Mularkey and general manager Tom Donahoe, both formerly of the Steelers.
According to Jim Wexell, LeBeau had left Cowher on bad terms in 1997, with LeBeau leaving a championship-level defense and team for the same job with the .500 Cincinnati Bengals. Cowher had developed a reputation of being tough on his defensive coordinators because of how heavily involved with the defense he was. He and his coaches didn't always agree on strategies. But Cowher assured LeBeau, the architect of the Blitzburgh scheme which brought so much success to the franchise in the 1990's, that the defense would be his and LeBeau knew he had a unit that had a chance to be uniquely special.
Dick LeBeau coaches up Troy Polamalu - Getty Images
Why did the Steelers defense even need a new defensive coordinator?
But what most don’t know is why the defense had an opening at defensive coordinator to begin with. Tim Lewis had been defensive coordinator for four years and had been on the Steelers staff since 1995. Cowher had never fired a defensive coordinator before, as Dom Capers and Jim Haslett departed to accept head coaching jobs. Cowher was not initially anticipating replacing Lewis, given the Steelers defense had improved, as he told reporters in his postseason press conference that, “I don’t anticipate making any coaching changes.”
But only eight days later, things changed very suddenly. Lewis, who was in consideration for the head coaching position by the Atlanta Falcons was informed by Falcons officials that he was invited back to Atlanta the next day for a second round of interviews.
Later that same day, to the surprise of many, Cowher officially fired Lewis. Neither Cowher nor Lewis, gave a reason for the firing beyond citing “philosophical differences,” although it had nothing to do with the Steelers 6-10 record or the overall performance of the Steelers defense. When that word reached the Falcons, they canceled his interview and told Lewis they had to re-evaluate things.
Lewis confirmed as much to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
"It really was not a football thing," said Lewis, who declined to expound on any reasons Cowher might have given him."You talk about a bad day. You find out you're fired and then you find out an opportunity you prepared diligently for no longer is a possibility."
Steelers Kendrell Bell gets instruction from defensive coordinator Tim Lewis during practice at Latrobe - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The firing caught many by surprise and was even criticized locally, most notably by Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who thought “Lewis’ firing made no sense” and it made the Steelers and Rooney “look bad” as it came on the heels of the Rooney-chaired NFL Diversity Committee placing a $200,000 fine on the Detroit Lions for not interviewing a minority candidate prior to hiring Steve Mariucci. Cook double-downed on his sentiment, leveling Cowher to be the individual who should take the blame and inferring that he was not taking accountability for the shortcomings of the Steelers defense.
However, what Cook, and many others did not know was the person who subverted and instigated Tim Lewis to be fired was Tim Lewis himself. Intentional or not, he was overheard communicating a message that was not in his or the Steelers' best interests.
Bill Cowher had no intention of firing defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, but after the loss to the Ravens in the Steelers’ season finale in Baltimore, Lewis was overheard at the exit telling people goodbye, that he would soon be fired after the 6-10 season.Dan Rooney was asked the next day about Lewis’ replacement, and that was the first Rooney had heard of any departure involving Lewis, who still had a year left on his contract.
Rooney informed Cowher, who verified the behavior, called Lewis into his office, and fulfilled his defensive coordinator’s prophesy by firing him.
The 2000's Steelers defense and legacy
Lewis, who was quickly hired as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants by Tom Coughlin, left the Steelers without any of Cook’s fallacious rancor. Lewis met with chairman Dan Rooney before departing the Steelers’ South Side practice facility for the final time and only had positive things to say to reporters.
"The organization, Art [Rooney II, team president] and Dan, bent over backward to help Tim Lewis be successful."
Lewis played a critical role in several decisions that would impact the Steelers defense for the following decade, including being the biggest advocate for the Steelers to sign James Farrior over Earl Holmes and insert Deshea Townsend into the starting lineup over Dewayne Washington, as well as the draft trade and selection of Troy Polamalu, who he defended against unfair criticism throughout his rookie year.
James Farrior came into his own under Dick LeBeau - Getty Images
The return of LeBeau was instrumental in the development of Farrior and Polamalu becoming stars at their respective positions and transitioning the Steelers defense into one of the greatest defensive units in NFL history, finishing #1 overall in total defense in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012 and winning Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII. That left one to wonder “what if” Lewis didn’t undermine himself in the eyes of the organization?
What do you think? Was it divine intervention to have LeBeau return in 2004? Or would the Steelers defense have seen the same success under Lewis?
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