Keith Butler (American football)
Encyclopedia
Keith Butler is an American football
linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
. He played with the NFL
's Seattle Seahawks
for 10 years and retired after the 1987 NFL season
.
at the University of Memphis
, starting for three years at inside linebacker. He had 384 career tackles
and seven interceptions, leading the school in tackles during his junior and senior seasons. Butler was named a 1977 Associated Press All-American in his senior year, playing in the Senior Bowl and the Blue-Gray All-Star Game.
. He started 132 of 146 games in his 10 year career, and finished with 813 tackles (ranking second on the Seahawks' all-time tackles list).
. He then moved to Arkansas State in 1998 to serve as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
His professional coaching debut came as a linebackers coach for the expansion Cleveland Browns
in 1999. He was the only assistant coach retained after a staff turnover in 2001, and coached the next two seasons under Butch Davis
, mentoring the club's first ever Pro Bowl selection since returning to Cleveland, linebacker Jamir Miller
.
Butler moved to the Pittsburgh Steelers
in 2003, serving as linebackers coach. He has been extremely instrumental in mentoring the development of the Steelers' renowned linebacking corps. His linebacking experience has helped the Steelers consistently lead the NFL in rushing defense, total defense, and sacks. For example, the Steelers have ranked in the top five for total yards allowed in six of the eight seasons Butler has served, and never worse than the top ten. Similarly, the Steelers have ranked in the top five for rushing yards allowed in seven of the eight seasons Butler has served, only ranking twelfth once in 2003.
Butler has been influential in the development of Pro Bowl linebackers Joey Porter
, James Farrior
, Lawrence Timmons
, LaMarr Woodley, and James Harrison. Harrison, in particular, improved from an undrafted practice squad linebacker into the NFL Defensive Player of the Year under Butler's tutelage.
He is considered a leading candidate to take over the Steelers' defensive coordinator position when Dick Lebeau
retires, due to his experience in coaching Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He played with the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
for 10 years and retired after the 1987 NFL season
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
.
College career
Butler played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Memphis
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
, starting for three years at inside linebacker. He had 384 career tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and seven interceptions, leading the school in tackles during his junior and senior seasons. Butler was named a 1977 Associated Press All-American in his senior year, playing in the Senior Bowl and the Blue-Gray All-Star Game.
NFL career
Butler was selected 36th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1978 NFL Draft1978 NFL Draft
The 1978 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 2–3, 1978...
. He started 132 of 146 games in his 10 year career, and finished with 813 tackles (ranking second on the Seahawks' all-time tackles list).
Coaching career
Butler began his coaching career at Memphis in 1990, coaching linebackers and later expanding his role to cover defensive ends and special teams by 1997. He was the architect of a surprise 3-4 defensive scheme which led to the U of M's shocking 1996 upset of the #6 Tennessee Volunteers, led by junior quarterback Peyton ManningPeyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
. He then moved to Arkansas State in 1998 to serve as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
His professional coaching debut came as a linebackers coach for the expansion Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1999. He was the only assistant coach retained after a staff turnover in 2001, and coached the next two seasons under Butch Davis
Butch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
, mentoring the club's first ever Pro Bowl selection since returning to Cleveland, linebacker Jamir Miller
Jamir Miller
Jamir Malik Miller is a former professional American football linebacker with the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns of the NFL.-College career:He played for the UCLA Bruins from 1991 through 1993...
.
Butler moved to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in 2003, serving as linebackers coach. He has been extremely instrumental in mentoring the development of the Steelers' renowned linebacking corps. His linebacking experience has helped the Steelers consistently lead the NFL in rushing defense, total defense, and sacks. For example, the Steelers have ranked in the top five for total yards allowed in six of the eight seasons Butler has served, and never worse than the top ten. Similarly, the Steelers have ranked in the top five for rushing yards allowed in seven of the eight seasons Butler has served, only ranking twelfth once in 2003.
Butler has been influential in the development of Pro Bowl linebackers Joey Porter
Joey Porter
Joseph "Joey" Eugene Porter is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado State.A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Porter earned a...
, James Farrior
James Farrior
James Alfred Farrior is an American football player who currently plays as an inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Virginia, and played with the New York Jets from 1997 to 2001.-Early years:Farrior was born...
, Lawrence Timmons
Lawrence Timmons
Lawrence Olajuwon Timmons is an American football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Steelers 15th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State University.-Early years:...
, LaMarr Woodley, and James Harrison. Harrison, in particular, improved from an undrafted practice squad linebacker into the NFL Defensive Player of the Year under Butler's tutelage.
He is considered a leading candidate to take over the Steelers' defensive coordinator position when Dick Lebeau
Dick LeBeau
Charles Richard “Dick” LeBeau is a National Football League Hall of Fame defensive back. He is currently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator and is considered to be one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time. He spent 14 years in the NFL as a player with the Detroit Lions and...
retires, due to his experience in coaching Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense.