Mike McCarthy currently has 20 on-field coaching assistants. James Harrison thinks that number should tick up to 21. During his latest Deebo & Joe podcast with co-host Joe Haden, Harrison urged McCarthy to bring a legendary Steelers coach back to the sideline – former defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
“If he is going to continue to use the defense he’s got, it would be a great opportunity for Mike McCarthy to ring Dick LeBeau’s bell,” Harrison said on the show. “Just want to look and measure out, come in to OTAs, training camp, let’s see how much of this defense is the real Dick LeBeau Fire Zone. Just want to see.”
Harrison’s premise comes off McCarthy’s press conference comments of keeping Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme intact. The Steelers have run a 3-4 since the 1980s, but it hasn’t always been under LeBeau Fire Zone principles. Pittsburgh’s strayed away from that in recent years. Instead of aggressive five-man pressures that make up one part of the Fire Zone (generally defined as three-deep, five pressure calls), the Steelers have entrusted its front four to get home and play seven in coverage.
Blitz rates increased in 2025 and defensive lineman increasingly dropped into coverage. Still, LeBeau’s chaos of sending anyone and everyone wasn’t the same.
“I think coach LeBeau would be happy to be a consultant,” Harrison said. “Wouldn’t mind being a consultant.”
Even more broadly, bringing in LeBeau as a senior defensive assistant to evaluate the defense and provide wisdom isn’t a bad idea. LeBeau is a Hall of Fame defensive mind who could add value to Pittsburgh’s defense after leading the Steelers to elite showings en route to two Super Bowls. But there’s no indication that he’s eager to coach again. While still seemingly in great health and sounding so in a recent interview, he last coached in 2017 as the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator.
Turning 89 in December, LeBeau’s days of formally coaching, even in a consultant role, are likely over. Even legendary coach Tom Moore just retired at age 87.
Is there a middle ground? If LeBeau can’t come to the facility, McCarthy could call LeBeau and have a few heart-to-hearts about the defense or general counsel. Granted, McCarthy is a veteran coach who needs no introduction to Pittsburgh or its history of defense, but hearing any of LeBeau’s thoughts can’t hurt. Especially for someone like McCarthy who has never coached in the AFC North and hasn’t coached in the AFC since 1998.
There are no bad ideas in a brainstorm. Harrison’s suggestion is a solid one even if it’s unlikely to come to fruition.
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