Longtime Steelers Coach Expected To Retire: Report

PITTSBURGH, PA — Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler likely will join quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in retirement, according to one NFL insider.

Appearing on Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan, Aditi Kinkhabwala said she expects that Butler won't be back with the team for the 2022 season. He's been defensive coordinator since 2015, replacing Hall of Fame coach Dick LeBeau and served as linebackers coach from 2004 through 2014.

The Steelers season ended on a disappointing note Sunday, as the team was pummeled by the Kansas City Chiefs 42-21 in an AFC Wild Card playoff game.

Battling injuries and inconsistency, the Steelers defense underperformed significant in 2021, giving up 398 points. That ranked 20th out of 32 NFL teams. They also ranked 24th of 32 in yards allowed with 3,656, according to Pro Football Reference.

The fate of first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada also remains uncertain as the Steelers offense was historically bad this season. Led by a Roethlisberger in obvious decline, the team failed to score a first-half touchdown in six of its final seven games.

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