View source for Larry Foote

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name         = Larry Foote
| image        = Larry Foote.JPG
| alt          =
| caption      = Foote with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 2012
| number       = <!-- 50, 55 -->
| current_team = Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| position     = Run game coordinator & outside linebackers coach
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1980|6|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Detroit]], Michigan, U.S.
| death_date   = 
| death_place  = 
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 1
| weight_lb    = 239
| high_school  = [[Pershing High School|Pershing]] (Detroit)
| college      = [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]] (1998–2001)
| draftyear    = 2002
| draftround   = 4
| draftpick    = 128
| pastteams    =
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|2002|2008}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2009}})
* Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2010|2013}})
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|2014}})
| pastcoaching =
* Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2015}}) <br> Assistant linebackers coach
* Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2016|2018}}) <br> Linebackers coach
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|2019|2021}}) <br> Outside linebackers coach
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2022|2024}}) <br> Pass game coordinator & inside linebackers coach
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present) <br> Run game coordinator & outside linebackers coach
| highlights   = ; As a player
* 2× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XL|XL]], [[Super Bowl XLIII|XLIII]])
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[2001 College Football All-America Team|2001]])
* [[Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year]] (2001)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[2000 All-Big Ten Conference football team|2000]], [[2001 All-Big Ten Conference football team|2001]])
; As a coach:
* Super Bowl champion ([[Super Bowl LV|LV]])
| statlabel1   = Total [[Tackle (football move)#Gridiron football|tackles]]
| statvalue1   = 818
| statlabel2   = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2   = 25
| statlabel3   = [[Safety (gridiron football score)|Safeties]]
| statvalue3   = 1
| statlabel4   = Forced [[fumble]]s
| statvalue4   = 10
| statlabel5   = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue5   = 9
| statlabel6   = [[Pass deflected|Pass deflections]]
| statvalue6   = 27
| statlabel7   = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue7   = 4
| statlabel8   = Interception yards
| statvalue8   = 26
| pfr          = F/FootLa20
| pfrcoach     = FootLa0 
}}

'''Lawrence Edward Foote Jr.''' (born June 12, 1980) is an [[American football]] coach 
and former player who currently serves as the run game coordinator and outside [[linebackers coach]] for the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He previously served as the linebackers coach for the [[Arizona Cardinals]]. Foote was an [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] playing [[college football]] for the [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan Wolverines]], and was selected by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the fourth round of the [[2002 NFL draft]]. He also played briefly for the [[Detroit Lions]] and the Arizona Cardinals. In total, Foote played in the NFL as a [[linebacker]] for 13 seasons and earned two [[Super Bowl ring]]s with the Steelers, [[Super Bowl XL]] and [[Super Bowl XLIII]].

==College career==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=May 2012}}
Foote played [[college football]] at the [[University of Michigan]] where he started 28-of-48 games recording 212 tackles (145 solo) and 11 sacks for minus-91 yards and 53 stops for losses of 155 yards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aafoote.htm |website=Bentley Historical Library |access-date=7 July 2022|title=Larry Foote, Football All-American - University of Michigan Athletics }}</ref> He ranked fourth in school history in stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Foote was an All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice by the league's coaches as a junior in 2000, earned second-team honors from the media, he played in every game during his freshman and sophomore season. He majored in physical education in the division of kinesiology.

As a senior in 2001, Foote was a first-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] selection by Football News, a second-team selection by The Sporting News, a consensus All-Big Ten Conference first-team honoree and Defensive Player of the Year. He also received the [[Roger Zatkoff]] Award in 2001, given to the team's top linebacker.

On October 27, playing for the [[2001 Michigan Wolverines football team|2001 Wolverines]] against [[2001 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]], Foote set a school record with 7 tackles for a loss. The record stood until November 4, 2017, when [[Khaleke Hudson]] posted 8 against [[2017 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota]] in the [[Little Brown Jug (college football trophy)|Little Brown Jug]] rivalry game.<ref name=MinnesotaNotes>{{cite news|title=Postgame Notes: Michigan 33, Minnesota 10|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=MGoBlue.com|access-date=November 4, 2017|date=November 4, 2017|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/news/2017/11/4/football-postgame-notes-michigan-vs-minnesota.aspx}}</ref>

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 0 7/8
|       weight = 231
|         dash = 4.83
|    ten split = 1.68
| twenty split = 2.76
|      shuttle = 4.41
|   cone drill = 7.18
|     vertical = 30.0
|        bench = 24
|     arm span = 30 1/2
|    hand span = 9 1/4
|         note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Scout Larry Foote College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=589&DraftYear=2002 |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Ravens vs Steelers 2008 MNF.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Foote (50) playing against the [[Baltimore Ravens]] in 2008.]]

===Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint)===
Foote was selected by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the fourth round (128th overall) in the [[2002 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In his rookie year, he played in 14 games recording 20 tackles. The following year, saw him play more of a role on special teams but he finished the season with six tackles. In 2004, Foote had a very solid year for the Steelers registering 69 tackles, three sacks and his first career interception. He had a breakout year in 2005. He started all 16 regular season games for the Steelers, recording 102 tackles and three [[quarterback sack]]s. Foote also had a key interception of [[Denver Broncos]] quarterback [[Jake Plummer]] during the 2005 [[AFC Championship Game]]. The Broncos, trailing in the game, returned a Steelers kick to midfield which threatened to shift the momentum away from the Steelers. However, on the next play from scrimmage, Foote intercepted Plummer's pass and effectively ended the Broncos rally. Foote and the Steelers won [[Super Bowl XL]] two weeks later. The 2006 season was another good one for Foote, as he finished with 90 tackles, a career-high four sacks and one interception. In the 2007 season, he made 81 tackles, three sacks and one interception.

Foote was released by Pittsburgh on May 4, 2009, ending a seven-year career with the Steelers that included two Super Bowl titles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4107676|title = Steelers to release veteran linebacker Foote|date = April 28, 2009}}</ref> Foote had requested the release due to his diminishing playing time with the team after they [[2007 NFL draft|drafted]] [[Lawrence Timmons]] in [[2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season|2007]].

===Detroit Lions===
Foote signed a one-year deal with his hometown [[Detroit Lions]] on May 6, 2009.<ref>[http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2009/5/6/866896/larry-foote-officially-signs-with Larry Foote Officially Signs with Lions-Pride of Detroit] Retrieved August 24, 2012.</ref> He wore number 55, since the number 50, the number he wore in Pittsburgh, was worn by linebacker [[Ernie Sims]].

===Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)===
On March 15, 2010, Foote signed a 3-year, $9.3&nbsp;million contract to return to the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]].<ref>[http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/03/15/foote-signs-three-year-deal-with-steelers/ Foote signs three year deal with Steelers-NFL.com] Retrieved August 24, 2012.</ref>
On March 12, 2013, Foote signed another 3-year contract to remain with the Steelers.

On March 5, 2014, Foote was released by the Steelers.

===Arizona Cardinals===
[[File:Larry Foote Cardinals.jpg|thumb|Larry Foote playing for the Arizona Cardinals.]]
On May 6, 2014, Foote signed with the [[Arizona Cardinals]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/arizona-cardinals-larry-foote-strike-one-year-contract-0ap2000000347294|title=Arizona Cardinals, Larry Foote strike one-year contract|website=[[NFL.com]]}}</ref> He finished 7th in Comeback Player of the Year voting for the 2014 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 Awards Voting |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/awards_2014.htm |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The team released him as a procedural move so he could begin his duties as assistant linebackers coach, and he officially retired from football prior to the 2015 NFL regular season.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Weinfuss|first1=John|title=Cards' Larry Foote to try coaching|date=February 19, 2015|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12347418/larry-foote-joins-arizona-cardinals-coaching-staff-play|publisher=ESPN|access-date=February 19, 2015}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Tackles
!colspan="5"| Interceptions
!colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 14 || 3 || 30 || 21 || 9 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 16 || 0 || 6 || 5 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 16 || 16 || 70 || 53 || 17 || 3.0 || 8 || '''1''' || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 16 || 16 || 102 || '''76''' || 26 || 3.0 || '''13''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 1 || '''27''' || 0
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 16 || 16 || 91 || 62 || 29 || '''4.0''' || 5 || '''1''' || 11 || 0 || 11 || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 16 || 16 || 85 || 46 || '''39''' || 3.0 || 5 || '''1''' || '''14''' || 0 || '''14''' || '''5''' || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 16 || 16 || 63 || 34 || 29 || 1.5 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 14 || 14 || 99 || 70 || 29 || 2.0 || 11 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 16 || 0 || 21 || 16 || 5 || 1.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 15 || 5 || 47 || 30 || 17 || 1.5 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 16 || 16 || '''113''' || 75 || 38 || '''4.0''' || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 2 || '''2''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 1 || 1 || 8 || 3 || 5 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 15 || 15 || 83 || 61 || 22 || 2.0 || 6 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 187 !! 134 !! 818 !! 552 !! 266 !! 25.0 !! 65 !! 4 !! 26 !! 0 !! 14 !! 27 !! 10 !! 9 !! 27 !! 0
|}

===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Tackles
!colspan="5"| Interceptions
!colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 2 || 0 || 11 || 7 || 4 || 0.0 || '''2''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 2 || 2 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 4 || 4 || '''24''' || '''16''' || '''8''' || '''0.5''' || 1 || '''1''' || '''14''' || 0 || '''14''' || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 1 || 1 || 6 || 5 || 1 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 3 || 3 || 8 || 7 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 3 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 1 || 1 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0.0 || '''2''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 17 !! 11 !! 60 !! 44 !! 16 !! 0.5 !! 6 !! 2 !! 14 !! 0 !! 14 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0
|}

==Coaching career==
===Arizona Cardinals===
On February 19, 2015, Foote was hired as assistant linebackers coach by the [[Arizona Cardinals]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Foote joins Cards' coaching staff, could still play|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12347418/larry-foote-joins-arizona-cardinals-coaching-staff-play|date=2015-02-19|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref> He was promoted to linebackers coach in 2016.

===Tampa Bay Buccaneers===
On January 12, 2019, Foote agreed to terms with the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] to become their outside linebackers coach, rejoining the staff of [[Bruce Arians]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bruce Arians finds comfort under his coaching tree|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2019/09/03/bruce-arians-finds-comfort-under-his-coaching-tree/|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref> Foote earned his first Super Bowl title as a coach and third Super Bowl title overall when the Buccaneers won [[Super Bowl LV]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LV - Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 7th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202102070tam.htm |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Following the 2021 season, Foote shifted roles to coaching the inside linebackers,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnett |first1=Zach |title=The Scoop - Tuesday March 1, 2022 |url=https://footballscoop.com/thescoop/the-scoop-tuesday-march-1-2022 |access-date=1 March 2022 |work=footballscoop.com |publisher=Football Scoop |date=1 March 2022}}</ref> but following Arians' resignation and the promotion of defensive coordinator [[Todd Bowles]] to head coach, Foote was named pass game coordinator of the Buccaneers. As Bowles retained his defensive play calling and coaching duties, he did not hire an official defensive coordinator, leaving Foote as one of two top defensive assistant coaches for Tampa Bay, along with run game coordinator [[Kacy Rodgers]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Larry Foote - Coaches|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/team/coaches-roster/larry-foote|access-date=April 22, 2024|website=buccaneers.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In March 2008, Foote paid for the funeral of Mark Brown-Williams, a ten-year-old child from [[Detroit, Michigan]], who had drowned after falling through the ice on a tributary of the [[River Rouge (Michigan)|Rouge River]] in February.<ref name=askari>Askari, Emilia. "[http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080302/NEWS05/803020604/1007/NEWS Hundreds say their good-byes to boy]", The [[Detroit Free Press]], published March 2, 2008, accessed March 3, 2008.</ref> Foote had no pre-existing personal connection to the family, but he was touched after hearing of the tragedy, as he has a son of nearly that age himself and had played on the same frozen river when he was a child.<ref name=harris>Harris, John. "[http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/teenscene/s_555230.html Athletes' good deeds virtually ignored] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203061303/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/teenscene/s_555230.html |date=2009-02-03 }}", The [[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]], published March 3, 2008, accessed March 3, 2008.</ref>

On June 28, 2008, Foote married Jonelle Massop. The couple have four children together; Jalyn, Tripp, Tramm and Mason. {{citation needed|date = May 2012}} Foote also has a son, Trey, from a previous relationship.{{citation needed|date = May 2012}} His mother's name is Leslie Matthews; he has two sisters, Jennifer and Ciara Matthews. {{citation needed|date = May 2012}}

After playing and excelling in high school, collegiate and professional football in the state of [[Michigan]], Foote was inducted into the [[Michigan Sports Hall of Fame]] on October 17, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | last=Paul | first=Tony | title=Meet the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame's star-studded Class of 2024 | website=detroitnews.com | date=2024-06-21 | url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/2024/06/21/meet-the-michigan-sports-hall-of-fames-star-studded-class-of-2024/74153538007/ | access-date=2025-05-11}}</ref>

==Notes and references==
{{Notelist}}
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [https://www.buccaneers.com/team/coaches-roster/larry-foote Tampa Bay Buccaneers profile]

{{NFL linebackers coach navbox}}{{Big Ten Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}{{Steelers2002DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XL}}
{{Super Bowl XLIII}}
{{Super Bowl LV}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foote, Larry}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American coaches of American football]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals coaches]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines football players]]
[[Category:NFL defensive coordinators]]
[[Category:Pershing High School alumni]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Detroit]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaches]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Michigan]]