It turns out that the departure of Dick LeBeau from the Pittsburgh Steelers was a matter of life or death.
Not for the 77-year-old LeBeau, but instead for an 81-year-old Steelers fan.
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Steelers Depot reported that Eleanor Miriam Gallagher died Wednesday, four days after LeBeau resigned his post as defensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers. She may have had high hopes for the team's postseason run this year, and when it unraveled in a 30-17 AFC Wild Card Game loss to the Baltimore Ravens, her health may have been affected.
According to her obituary:
""Eleanor was a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and the family firmly believes that the recent separation of Dick LeBeau and the Steelers' poor performance this season might have inadvertently contributed to her demise."
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Now, that is a devoted fan.
LeBeau resigned last Saturday, he revealed in an interview with the Urbana (Ohio) Daily Citizen.
"I'm resigning this position, not retiring," LeBeau, 77, said in an interview with the Daily Citizen, which was first to report the story. "I had a great run in Pittsburgh. I'm grateful for all the things that have happened to me and thankful for all the support I had in Pittsburgh.
"It's just time to make a break."
LeBeau had two stints as Steelers defensive coordinator, from 1995-96 and from 2004 until the end of the 2014 season. He helped Pittsburgh to victories in Super Bowl XL and XLIII.
Known as the architect of the modern-day zone-blitz defense, LeBeau was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His value to Gallagher was even more significant.
Her family described Gallagher as a loving person whose greatest passion was her family.
"Eleanor touched many lives and spread kindness and compassion wherever she went. We can think of no better way to honor the exemplary life that she led than by asking that you consider performing a random act of kindness for a fellow human being and smile," her obituary read.
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