Steelers not losing Butler to Titans

The Steelers don’t have to worry about losing a key member of their coaching staff.

Linebackers coach Keith Butler, who is considered the heir apparent to Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator, will not be leaving to become defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.

Butler was the leading candidate to join his friend and former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt in Tennessee, but the move was scuttled for undisclosed reasons.

Whisenhunt now has his sights set on hiring another former Steelers assistant, Ray Horton, as his defensive coordinator. Horton was defensive coordinator in Arizona when Whisenhunt was the Cardinals’ head coach.

Horton was defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns last season, but the Browns have given him permission to interview with other teams after they fired head coach Rob Chudzinski.