Legendary NFL coach and player releases new book

CINCINNATI – Coach Dick LeBeau spent 59 years in the National Football League, 14 as a player and 45 as a coach.

He is best known as the Steelers’ defensive coordinator who developed the Zone Blitz Defense and helped lead the team to two Super Bowl victories.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame member is also from Ohio and still lives in Cincinnati, where he talked more about his legendary career and his new book, in which he put the highlights on paper.

What you need to know

• Dick LeBeau spent 59 years in the NFL as a player and coach
• LeBeau is best known for developing the zone blitz defense and coordinating the Steelers’ defense in 2008.
• The legendary coach will publish his first book entitled “Legendary” in July
• The book focuses on the defense of the 2008 Super Bowl championship

Dick Lebeau remembers everything from his 59-year career in the National Football League.

“This is the story of how my pants ripped while I was playing!” says LeBeau.

At the age of 86, he decided it was time to share some of these memories with the world.

“When I finally retired, I said, ‘Hmm, I’m going to write this book about these guys before everyone forgets them,'” LeBeau said. “Well, you know, that’s it. The days go by, the calendar turns, and I look and think, ‘Maybe I’d better write this book pretty quickly while I’m still around to write it.'”

LeBeau’s book will be released on July 9 (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

His novel “Legendary” will be published in July and is based on the Steelers’ historic defense in 2008.

Among them was one of the NFL’s most famous safeties: Troy Polamalu.

“Troy could do anything,” LeBeau said. “It’s every coach’s dream.”

LeBeau is still in contact with that team.

LeBeau had a special relationship with his players (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“You called me Coach Dad at some point,” he said. “Because it says it came from one of your sons.”

And I reminisced about every single game this season, including the Super Bowl, that his defense almost gave up.

“I was walking down the sideline. I said, ‘I can’t believe it,'” LeBeau recalls. “I said, ‘We’re going to be remembered as a defense that blew the damn Super Bowl game.'”

LeBeau is best known for inventing the Zone Blitz, a legacy that will long outlive the great coach.

The zone blitz is thanks to LeBeau (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“Sometimes I go to high school games and see them run a zone blitz,” he said. “And that gives you a pretty warm feeling.”

But LeBeau’s football career began right here in the Buckeye State, first in London, Ohio, and then at Ohio State. As a cornerback, he led the Buckeyes to the 1957 National Championship – a time in his life that he still remembers.

LeBeau helped the Buckeyes to the 1957 national championship (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“Playing for Ohio State is still, without a doubt, the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced in my life,” he said.

From there he played all 14 years of his professional career with the Detroit Lions.

LeBeau was a cornerback for the Detroit Lions for 14 years (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“I always tell my players, if they’re good, they won’t get traded. So they’ll play for the team they’re on their whole career,” LeBeau joked.

Lebeau had one of the longest coaching careers in NFL history and enjoyed every second of it – and wanted to make sure fans got a behind-the-scenes look.

“I just hope they enjoy reliving yesterday, shaping it and remembering the games as much as I did,” he said.

And even though it’s his first book, he said he has many more stories to tell.

“They say everyone has at least one good book inside them,” he said. “Well, I hope this is mine, and I hope it’s good, but we’ll see what happens.”