Bruce Arians Basically Guaranteed Former Steelers Leader Will Become A Head Coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers don't just bring in players that are talented on the field. The organization also prioritizes bringing in guys that fit the culture and can help shape the locker room, and that has been evident throughout several different iterations of the team. Under former head coach Mike Tomlin, he relied on having leaders within the locker room, and a lot of times those leaders were on the defensive side of the ball. This included players like James Harrison or James Farrior, but also lesser-known players like linebacker Larry Foote.

Pittsburgh drafted Foote in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and he had two different stints with the organization. He played in Pittsburgh from 2002 through 2008, and then again from 2010 through 2013. He was a part of both Super Bowl winning teams in Pittsburgh, and while he never acquired any major individual accolades as a player, he was known for being a great leader for the Black and Gold. He finished his career with the Arizona Cardinals, and he then went right into coaching as he was hired as Arizona's assistant linebackers coach in 2014.

His former head coach in Arizona and the former offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, Bruce Arians, recently went on Pewter Report, and gave a glowing review of Foote as a coach. He went as far as to say that he would be a head coach some day.

"I don't think there's any doubt he'll be a head coach one day," Arians said. "Larry's one of the smartest guys I've ever coached. He was a linebacker for me in Arizona after Pittsburgh, and I hired him full-time as a linebacker coach the next year. He didn't need any training; he was already coaching the guys on the field all the time anyway. Bright, bright guy. If you go back up to Pittsburgh and see that Super Bowl team, there's not anybody more respected than Larry Foote. I think he's on the right path to be a head coach."

Arians was with the Steelers from 2004 through 2011, and he then worked with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2012 season. He wound up being an interim head coach for the Colts, which led to him being hired as the head coach of the Cardinals in 2013. He coached Foote during his final season, and then immediately hired him to his staff.

Foote started as an assistant in Arizona, but he was promoted to the main linebackers coach after just one season. He then followed Arians to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He initially served as the outside linebackers coach, and Tampa Bay won Super Bowl LV with Arians and Foote on the coaching staff. Arians eventually retired, but Foote is still in Tampa Bay coaching under Todd Bowles.

Based on Arians' comments, he doesn't expect Foote to remain in the shadows for much longer. He is currently serving as Tampa Bay's outside linebackers coach and run game coordinator, but he has been given interviews for vacant defensive coordinator positions around the league. If he can excel in a role like that, he should be on the fast track to becoming a head coach.

Steelers Have Had Several Former Players Make Their Way Through The Coaching Ranks

There have been plenty of former players who have turned into great coaches in the NFL, but Foote is one of the few Steelers since the turn of the century that has made his way through the ranks. Former quarterback Byron Leftwich also coached in Tampa Bay, and he was the offensive coordinator on the team that won Super Bowl LV. He is currently an assistant coach at Colorado. 

Outside of those two, former cornerback Deshea Townsend has also been coaching as he currently works on the Detroit Lions staff. JT Barrett is another notable former Steelers player who has made his rounds in coaching.

What do you think of Foote's chances to become a head coach in the NFL? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

#SteelerNation