Former Steelers, Cardinals LB Larry Foote Likely To Remain Coaching

Linebacker Larry Foote, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and most recently the Arizona Cardinals, is reportedly considering a full retirement from playing in the NFL, choosing instead to continue coaching.

Per Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette, the soon to be 35 year-old Foote, who played in 15 games for Arizona in 2014, is unsure his body can continue to take the day-to-day punishment on the field.  Foote has spoken to Cardinals coach Bruce Arians about his future.

“He feels good and he played very well for us last season,” Arians said between coaches’ meetings in Arizona.  “But we want to have him around because of what he means in the locker room. If he feels he can play, he might.”

Foote was drafted in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft (128th overall) by the Steelers out of Michigan.  Although Foote played in 14 games his rookie season, it wasn’t until 2004 that he had a solid year, registering 69 tackles, three sacks and an interception.  Foote started all 16 regular season games for the Steelers the following season, recording 102 tackles and three sacks.  In the 2005 AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos, Foote intercepted a Jake Plummer pass that secured the win.  The Steelers went on to win Super Bowl XL just two weeks later.  The Steelers released Foote in May 2009 after he played in two Super Bowl games for the team after he expressed his desire to play elsewhere due to limited playing time behind Lawrence Timmons (drafted in 2007).

Foote played one season in hometown Detroit with the Lions, but returned to the Steelers in 2010, signing a three-year, $9.3 million contract.  He signed another three-year contract in 2013 with Pittsburgh but was released in March 2014.  That May, Foote signed with Arizona.

Foote was entering free agency this season and on February 19, the Cardinals and Arians added him as a member of the coaching staff, releasing him from the team as a player in a procedural move that allowed him to coach.  That Foote spoke with Arians about his concerns over his physical ability to play shows every indication that he will remain in an assistant coaching role.

Career Statistics (As of 2014)

S Dean

S. Dean is a lifelong Pittsburgh sports fan. The former owner of 'The Beam in Pittsburgh', Dean has worked in the sports media field for several years. S. Dean graduated with a degree in physical therapy and sports medicine, has a minor in journalism and is a Mt. Lebanon, PA, native. His favorite Steelers players (all-time) are Jerome Bettis, Lynn Swann and Joey Porter. You can follow him on Twitter @NFLHotTopix and Google Plus. To see his full bio, please visit the Meet Our Staff page.