We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.
No. 44 Dick LeBeau
Born in London, just 30 miles west of Ohio State’s campus, Dick LeBeau played both halfback and cornerback for legendary coach Woody Hayes. He scored two touchdowns in a 31-14 win over Michigan in 1957, which propelled the Buckeyes to the 1957 national championship.
HB-CB DICK LEBEAU
1956-58
b. Sept. 9, 1937 (London, OH)
- National Champion (1957)
- Big Ten Champion (1957)
LeBeau was selected in the fifth round — or 58th overall pick, which would now be the second round — of the 1959 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, but was cut in training camp. He signed with the Detroit Lions just a few months later, and went on to play 14 seasons with the franchise and finished his career as the team’s all-time leader in interceptions (62). LeBeau, a three-time Pro Bowler, was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and inducted into Detroit’s ring of honor — ‘Pride of Lions’ — in 2010.
After retirement as a player, LeBeau immediately began a coaching career in the NFL as the special teams coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles. He also spent time with the Green Bay Packers (defensive backs coach), Cincinnati Bengals (defensive backs coach, defensive coordinator and head coach) Buffalo Bills (assistant head coach), but finally made his mark as the defensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom he won two Super Bowls (XL and XLIII).
After he resigned from his position in 2015, LeBeau was named the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Tennessee Titans. He helped Tennessee reach the playoffs last fall, but was not retained by new Titans head coach Mike Vrabel this offseason.
LeBeau — who was an active member of the NFL for a whopping 59 seasons — is a married father of five, grandfather of six and great-grandfather of two.
Photo: Ohio State Dept. of Athletics