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The Colts added former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians to their staff, but weren't able to add Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler as defensive coordinator after he decided to stay in Pittsburgh.
The Indianapolis Colts are filling out their new coaching staff with some former Pittsburgh Steelers coaches. After reportedly hiring former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians as their offensive coordinator, the Colts will be hiring Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler as the Colts new defensive coordinator according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Butler's contract with the Steelers expired after this season. Pittsburgh did not want to lose him, but Butler wanted to be a defensive coordinator and Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will be back again next season.
The 55-year-old Butler joined the Steelers before the 2003 season. Butler, Arians and Pagano were all part of then-Cleveland Browns coach Butch Davis' staff when he took that job in 2001.
With the hiring of Butler and the impending free agents on the Colts, many feel that the team will shift to a 3-4 defense given that the team is likely going to move to a total rebuild.
For more on the Keith Butler hire and the Indianapolis Colts, visit SB Nation's Colts blog Stampede Blue.
The Indianapolis Colts have hired former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians for the same position with the Colts, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN. Arians had spent the past five seasons with the Steelers as their offensive coordinator. Arians is credited with moving the Steelers from their traditional run heavy offense to more of a pass heavy offense centered around quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Arians is also credited with the development of Big Ben into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Arians was met with a lot of angst from Steelers fans over the past few seasons because of his style of offense. Arians has worked with the Colts previously however, spending time as the quarterbacks coach from the 1998 season to the 2000 season before joining the Cleveland Browns as their offensive coordinator. Arians was the quarterbacks coach during Peyton Manning's first three seasons as a quarterback in the NFL. Obviously, Arians will be charged with helping the development with potential first round pick quarterback Andrew Luck as he did with Peyton Manning.
Arians will replace Colts offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen, who will now move to the position of wide receivers coach.
For more on the Bruce Arians hire and the Indianapolis Colts, visit SB Nation's Colts blog Stampede Blue.
Keith Butler Staying With Pittsburgh Steelers, Not Going To Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts will not have quite as much Pittsburgh Steelers flavor on the sideline as they originally planned for the upcoming season. The team hired new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians away from the Steelers, but they reportedly will not be able to do the same for linebackers coach Keith Butler.
The Colts planned to interview Butler for their defensive coordinator opening, but the veteran coach has decided instead to stay with the Steelers according to the NFL Network's Jason La Canfora. Though it seems like a move from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator would be a solid career move, it sounds like Butler will eventually make an even bigger jump with the Steelers.
It'll be interesting to see who the Colts go after next considering it had earlier been reported that Butler to Indianapolis was a done deal.
For more on the Colts search for an offensive coordinator, visit SB Nation's Colts blog Stampede Blue. For more on Butler and the Steelers, check out Behind the Steel Curtain.
Jan 31 8:50a by Scott Schroeder - 0 comments