Around The AFC North: Dick LeBeau Returns To The Pittsburgh Steelers

There was some talk, mostly from the media generating buzz -- not that we're the media -- that Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau could be mulling retirement, or joining another NFL team (notably the Arizona Cardinals) with an expiring contract at the end of the year.

On Tuesday, the speculation can finally end.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, LeBeau signed a one-year deal to stay on as the Steelers defensive coordinator.

Signing a one-year contract is nothing new for LeBeau: He has done that every year with the Steelers since returning for his second stint as defensive coordinator in 2004. And that is his choice, not the Steelers, who typically sign all their assistant coaches to two-year contracts.

LeBeau, a native Ohioan, has spent over half of his coaching career with the Bengals, even coaching the Bengals during both Super Bowl games in 1981 as a defensive backs coach and in 1988 as the team's defensive coordinator.