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Originally Published: June 5, 2009
LeBeau is top defensive coordinator
By John Clayton
ESPN.com

Dick LeBeau has led the No. 1 defense the past two seasons; the Patriots' D has been in the top 10 for three years under Dean Pees; Leslie Frazier has developed a tough run defense in Minnesota. A major shakeup has juggled the rankings of the league's top five defensive coordinators. Rex Ryan, Steve Spagnuolo and Jim Schwartz coordinated top-10 defenses last season and now have head-coaching jobs, increasing the number of defensive head coaches to 17. Monte Kiffin left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to join his son Lane at the University of Tennessee. Former top coordinators Dom Capers (Green Bay Packers), Gregg Williams (New Orleans Saints) and Jim Bates (Tampa Bay) are trying new jobs. So who are the league's top 5 defensive coordinators after all of the changes?

1. Dick LeBeau, Pittsburgh Steelers -- He created the 3-4 defense, and even though he's in his 70s, he's inventive. LeBeau is coming off back-to-back seasons in which the Steelers finished No. 1 on defense. He's the current king.

NFL: John Clayton ranks Dick LeBeau of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the league's top defensive coordinator - ESPN