LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — This might be one of the few times an assistant coach received the loudest cheers of the day at an NFL training camp.
As the thousands of fans at the Steelers’ camp spotted defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau walking down a hill to practice on Monday afternoon, the ovation was as deafening as any Troy Polamalu or Ben Roethlisberger has received at Saint Vincent College.
LeBeau was gone for three days while being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an honor he called the highlight of his 52-year career as a player and coach. It must have been — during that time, he can’t recall missing a practice for any other reason.
He doesn’t expect to miss any more, no matter how long he coaches. LeBeau isn’t willing to concede he’ll stop coaching soon, even though the former Lions star cornerback will turn 73 next month.
