National Football League

Source: LeBeau nearing deal to reunite with Arians in Arizona

Published Jan. 21, 2015 1:52 a.m. ET

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Alex Marvez

Dick LeBeau's 56th year of NFL service came with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He's on the verge of spending his 57th with the Arizona Cardinals.

A source told FOX Sports that the Cardinals are working to finalize a deal that would make LeBeau the team's linebackers coach.

LeBeau would be replacing Mike Caldwell, who will join the staff that recently hired head coach Todd Bowles is assembling with the New York Jets. Bowles was the Cardinals defensive coordinator the past two seasons, and Arizona has yet to name his replacement.

LeBeau, 77, resigned as Pittsburgh's defense coordinator earlier this month after 11 years. The Steelers fielded the NFL's 18th-ranked defense in 2014, which was the franchise's lowest rating since the 1991 campaign.

LeBeau, though, is still held in high regard as one of the league's top coaches.

LeBeau has a long history with Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians. Both worked on the same Steelers staff that directed Super Bowl-winning teams during the 2005 and 2008 seasons.

LeBeau was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 for his 14-year career as a standout Detroit Lions cornerback (1959 to 1972). LeBeau began coaching in the NFL the year after his retirement. Known as the innovator of the zone-blitz scheme, LeBeau was Cincinnati's head coach from 2000 to 2002.

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