Dick LeBeau may have killed woman by resigning from Steelers

Aug 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau looks on from the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Panthers won 10-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau looks on from the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Panthers won 10-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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It appears one devout Pittsburgh Steelers fan couldn’t handle the loss of their defensive coordinator.


Eleanor Miriam Gallagher, 81, passed away surrounded by those she loved most, her family and her friends. It appears, however, the Pennsylvania native may have been sent to the grave early thanks in part to the Pittsburgh Steelers performance against the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round. Add to that, soon-after the Steelers lost, the team learned of the resignation of longtime defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

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Many fans can be considered “die-hard,” but Gallagher, takes the term to a new level as she may have been killed by the horrible way the Steelers ended their season.

Her obituary states:

"“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.”"

This poor old lady just wanted to watch her team win, and they not only didn’t satisfy that wish but played so atrociously that her body just shutdown as a result. There’s bad football and then there’s apparently the kind that is harmful to the elderly.

Now, things weren’t all bad for Gallagher. Being 81-years-old meant she got to enjoy six Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl’s in her lifetime. More than any other fan of any team has the ability to say. She got to see Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Chuck Noll and all the other Pittsburgh legends in her lifetime.

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So to say she didn’t have a great run wouldn’t be accurate. It’s sort of fitting that the Steelers killed this sweet old lady, as white she probably would have preferred to live and see the team win, going out because of your favorite team is about as die-hard a way to go as possible — literally.

If the Steelers are sending people to the grave, where are teams like the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions sending their respective fans? Here’s a hint, it’s pretty warm there.

Perhaps, it was LeBeau leaving that was the final straw. LeBeau resigned from Pittsburgh after spending several years with the team. LeBeau has recently been in negotiations to join the Arizona Cardinals staff.

So, whether it was because of LeBeau, the way the Steelers season ended, or health reasons, Gallagher has left us all.

Rest in peace.

[H/T: SI: Extra Mustard]

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