Steelers name Keith Butler as new defensive coordinator

January 13, 2015 at 1:30p.m.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't look far for Dick LeBeau's replacement.

The team promoted longtime linebackers coach Keith Butler to defensive coordinator today. Butler will take over for LeBeau. The Hall of Famer resigned on Saturday after the team finished 18th in total defense, the lowest in his second stint with the Steelers.

Butler has spent the last 12 years with Pittsburgh and has a long history with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. They worked together as assistants at Memphis in 1996. He will be in charge of bringing back some of the bite to a group in the midst of a transition as aging veterans Brett Keisel and Troy Polamalu give way to Cameron Heyward and Shamarko Thomas.