Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Larry Foote is a candidate for the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator vacancy, according to a report by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher-Report.
The Lions are searching for a new defensive coordinator after Aaron Glenn accepted the job as the head coach of the New York Jets earlier this week.
Foote, 44, has been the pass game coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2022. Before that he was outside linebackers coach for the Bucs from 2019-21 under former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, winning a third Super Bowl ring in 2021.
Inside linebacker is where Foote played in his 13-year NFL career, 11 of which were with the Pittsburgh Steelers after the club drafted him out of Michigan in the fourth round of the 2002 draft.
Foote became a starer for the first time in 2004 and was an integral part of the team’s defense for Super Bowl XL and XLIII victories. He spent one season in Detroit in 2009, but returned to the Steelers in 2010 for another four seasons. He finished his career with Arizona in 2014.
In total, Foote played in 187 games, starting 134, and made 818 tackles, record 25 sacks, recovered nine fumbles and caught four interceptions in his NFL career. All but 29 of those games came with the Steelers.
The Lions coaching staff has a number of Steelers ties. Former Steelers center Hank Fraley, wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El are all on the coaching staff and candidates to become Detroit’s next offensive coordinator.
Former Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend is Detroit’s defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator.
