Do recent events shed light on LeBeau's future with Steelers?

How long will Dick LeBeau continue to be the Steelers’ defensive coordinator?

That is a question to which there seems to be no definitive answer. LeBeau is 76 and ready to return for what will be his 56th NFL season as a player and coach. He has shown no inclination of wanting to retire.

But could the events of the past couple weeks shed some light on his future and the future of the Steelers defense?

Linebackers coach Keith Butler, who is considered to be the heir apparent to LeBeau, decided to remain with the Steelers rather than interview for the defensive coordinator position with the Tennessee Titans and his friend, Ken Whisenhunt.

It is unclear if Butler decided to stay because he was encouraged to do so or if his attempt to leave was blocked by Coach Mike Tomlin. In any event, the Titans never formally asked the Steelers for permission to speak with Butler because the decision apparently had already been made that he wasn’t going to leave.

Tomlin said at his season-ending news conference that there is no succession plan in place for when LeBeau leaves. However, the Steelers treat Butler more like a coordinator than an assistant coach with his contract and salary and apparently keep encouraging him to stay -- or preventing him from leaving.

Butler has one year remaining on his three-year contract, meaning the Steelers cannot prevent him from leaving if he chooses to do so after the 2014 season. But is that the year the Steelers and LeBeau decide to move on? Or is that the year Butler moves on?

Those answers continue to remain a mystery.