T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ swarming defensive performance against the Indianapolis Colts surely made Dick LeBeau proud. The occasion also allowed the two to meet for the first time. LeBeau returned to Pittsburgh as part of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Super Bowl XL winning team, and the two were finally able to introduce themselves.

“It’s crazy. It took nine years, but I’m glad,” Watt said in a weekly interview with WMBS’ George Von Benko. “I mean, obviously he’s a busy guy, but to be able to meet the legend himself was very surreal.”

LeBeau was one of many Steelers attending Week 10’s game and was honored on the field during halftime. Other notable names who made the trip include QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Jerome Bettis, and DL Aaron Smith.

As coach and player, LeBeau and Watt missed each other by several seasons. Lebeau’s final year in Pittsburgh came in 2014, and Watt didn’t enter the NFL until 2017. That was LeBeau’s final year coaching, serving as the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator. Pittsburgh and Tennessee played that year and Watt had two tackles in a 40-17 win but evidently, Watt and LeBeau didn’t catch up postgame.

“Anytime those guys come back, it’s awesome,” Watt said. “And to be able to be recognized for their Super Bowl is awesome. To just see all those guys back in town and see how tight-knit they are.

“But more than anything, just know that those guys are the ones that instill that Steelers’ culture. They carried it on even from the 70s all the way up to 2000s. So that’s something that we wanna continue to do and play Steelers’ football. And I think last week was more of a reflection of that.”

LeBeau thrived with players like Watt. Fast, aggressive, and whip-smart. Watt has been all of those things throughout his career, using the last nine years to become the Steelers’ all-time sack leader, make seven Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, and one Defensive Player of the Year Award. In his own right, LeBeau was an impactful NFL player who still ranks top-ten in history with 62 interceptions. But his more than 4o year coaching career defined LeBeau in the modern day, The Godfather of the Fire Zone. His scheme was birthed in Cincinnati and perfected in Pittsburgh.

The 2005 defense ranked third in scoring, fourth in yards, and first against the run. Over the final eight games, playoff run included, Pittsburgh allowed just 11.9 points per game. In postseason alone, the Steelers didn’t give up more than 18 points in a game despite facing high-powered offenses in the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 4 in scoring that year), the Indianapolis Colts (No. 2), the Denver Broncos (No. 7), and Seattle Seahawks (No. 1).

LeBeau was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010 for his services as a player, though there’s no doubt his coaching career had an impact on his standing. Five years after his playing days are done, Watt will join LeBeau in Canton immortality.