It Took T.J. Watt Nine Years To Meet A Pittsburgh Steelers Legend
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ dominant defensive showing against the Indianapolis Colts would have surely made former defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau proud. The game marked a special occasion, as T.J. Watt and LeBeau finally met in person after nearly a decade.
LeBeau returned to Pittsburgh to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the team’s Super Bowl XL victory from 2005. During this visit, he was honored on the field at halftime alongside other Steelers greats such as Ben Roethlisberger, Jerome Bettis, and Aaron Smith.
“It took nine years, but I’m glad,” Watt said in a weekly interview with WMBS’ George Von Benko. “I mean, obviously he’s a busy guy, but to be able to meet the legend himself was very surreal.”
As a coach and player, LeBeau and Watt just missed working together. LeBeau’s final season with Pittsburgh was in 2014 before he went on to serve as the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Watt entered the NFL in 2017, three years after LeBeau had moved on from coaching. Interestingly, their teams faced each other that same year; Watt recorded two tackles in a 40–17 Steelers victory, though the two did not connect after the game.
“Anytime those guys come back, it’s awesome,” Watt said. “And to be able to be recognized for their Super Bowl is awesome. To just see all those guys back in town and see how tight-knit they are.”
Author’s Summary
T.J. Watt finally met Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau during the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL anniversary, a long-awaited moment that bridged two eras of Pittsburgh’s proud defensive legacy.