Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler was seen in Arizona as a possible candidate to be the team’s defensive coordinator, if not the favorite outside the organization.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that Butler appears to have a clause in his contract saying he’s the defensive “coordinator in waiting” behind Dick LeBeau in Pittsburgh. That clause may prevent Butler from interviewing elsewhere and was reportedly inserted after Butler turned down the Dolphins coordinator job after last season.
Butler and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt are golf buddies, and the Cardinals wanted Butler for the coordinator job two years ago. Butler turned down the chance at the time because he was set to undergo hip replacement surgery.
It sounds like he may not even have the right to turn down the job this time.
(Hat tip to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic for sending us in the right direction.)
