As the 2025 hiring cycle approaches, candidates for the three current head coaching vacancies (and others which will likely soon open) are emerging. Byron Leftwich hopes to be among the names to receive consideration for a position on an NFL staff this year. 
The former quarterback transitioned to the sidelines under Bruce Arians in 2016 with Arizona, and he remained there for another two seasons. That spell included a partial stint as interim offensive coordinator before he and the rest of Steve Wilks‘ staff were let go after the 2018 campaign. Leftwich then followed Arians to Tampa Bay, serving as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator for each of Arians’ three years as head coach.
During that time, Tampa Bay won a Super Bowl and posted impressive offensive numbers, but the unit took a step back in 2022. Quarterback Tom Brady reversed course on his retirement decision, and with Arians no longer on the sidelines Todd Bowles was in place as head coach. The Buccaneers were eliminated in the wild-card round and Leftwich was dismissed. The 44-year-old has not coached since then, but he is looking to make a comeback this winter.
“I didn’t have the opportunities right after and this last year that I thought I would have, but I understand the process, and I understand that the whole world’s trying to get in that league,” Leftwich said of the NFL coaching market in an interview with The Athletic’s Mike Jones (subscription required). “Nothing should be given to me. Nobody owes me anything. So, I’m going to just work and see if I can have the opportunity to coach in that league again.”
Leftwich was mentioned as a candidate for a number of positions after his Bucs tenure came to an end, including the Jaguars’ head coaching position in 2022. The Marshall product played for Jacksonville during the first four years of his career, making him a natural option to take the gig in the wake of his time at the coordinator level. Reports emerged stating Leftwich and general manager Trent Baalke did not see eye to eye and that Leftwich turned down the opportunity to coach in Jacksonville, though. The former first-rounder denied that, saying he was never offered the position (one which ultimately went to Doug Pederson and may well be open again shortly).
Interest in certain college opportunities came up, but Leftwich has remained out of coaching during the past two years. He interviewed for the Ravens’ OC position in 2023 and expressed a desire for the Steelers’ offensive coordinator spot last year after Matt Canada was fired. Leftwich’s playing career ended in Pittsburgh under Mike Tomlin, who has remained complimentary of Leftwich’s capabilities as a coach. It will be interesting to see if he receives a look during the upcoming cycle.
The Jets, Saints and Bears are in search of a head coach, and other teams are likely to add to the list of openings once ‘Black Monday’ comes around. Likewise, several offensive coordinator positions will no doubt soon emerge. Leftwich is interested in returning to the NFL in one capacity or another, and as a result his name could be one to watch as the coaching landscape takes shape over the coming weeks.
Wow…you’re kidding right…..must either really…really need money, or is jealous of the current $$$money QB’s are making that have mediocre skills…..reminds. me of that commercial with Rice, Smith, Marino etc on TV considering comebacks too…..lol….
Yo rocky the man is looking to coach not play.
Got it…sorry…
Crazy that someone put that much effort into such a long winded comment, but didn’t even use his reading ability to read more than the headline. He’s been out a coaching job since Arians retired.
Hey Doug….guess you’re perfect.right…
Well…he will have to start at the bottom
…again…maybe he could go to Carolina and help Canales…head to the Raiders and help resurrect that offense ..
The Giants…..he will have to pound the pavement …wait…what?…make some calls…and if he helps…then he can move up the ladder
Guy should just go to college like Vick and DJaX
Those guys have never coached.
That’s my point. They never coached and got HC jobs. Byron should be able to get a HC job at a program with his experience.
South Dakota state has an opening. A good program.
Miss valley state has an opening. Not as good. Those are two off the top of my head that he could try for based on his experience.
Leftwich was a coordinator on a Super Bowl winning team. It says he wants to be on an NFL staff. That seems pretty reasonable. If he were to go to college, he’s earned looks at much bigger programs than the ones you’re citing.
reasonable unless you are from tampa and witnessed the complete implosion of a contender under his absence of leadership
If presiding over a unit that collapsed meant a coach shouldn’t ever be on an NFL coaching staff again then half the coaches in the NFL would be out of work.
I get SDSU is FCS but they are upper tier. Leftwhich isn’t getting a power 5 school. Maybe marshal if it’s still open. I can possibly see Fresno state for him. But as far as any of the power 5 programs. No. Not yet.
I think the most logical move would be to take an OC position in a team with a defensive-minded head coach and without an established HC, which would allow him to prove he can revitalize an offense and land him a HC opportunity
Oh, like he did for Todd Bowles. Facepalm HERE
I meant “without an established QB,” rather than HC.
Tom Brady would preclude that
I feel like he may have to go back to QB coach if he wants another NFL gig. His stock went up when he coached Carson Palmer and Tom Brady and plummeted without. If he can help develop a young QB he’ll have no problem getting another OC opportunity.
If I’m a college HC, I’m filling my staff with former NFL players to help bring in and keep recruits.
Freddie Kitchens also worked for Bruce Arians. When is he going to announce his comeback bid into the NFL coaching ranks?
It’s easy to be an OC when you have Tom Brady as your QB. Just ask Josh McDaniels.. probably the worst HC I’ve ever seen and the Lions had Matt Patricia.. I know Byron Leftwich was a pretty decent coach and played and worked under some good coaches. He’ll get another job pretty quick.
I think he could have gotten the Jags job. He never seemed to get looks after being fired by Bowles. It was hard to know if Bucs offense was his or Brady once BA left. Pitt or Atl may have connections, he needs to start back as a qb coach due to time away.
Are Bienemy and Leftwich still hot head coaching commodities? Seems like there were multiple stories a while back.
He sucked as an OC. Entirely unimaginative and uninspiring. I truly wouldn’t want him as an assistant coach on my son’s high school JV team. Seriously. No one makes a flat brim hat look dumber than this guy.
Kinda surprised by how much negativity/pessimism is in this comment section but then again it’s a comment section on an internet article.
Leftwich as a player always seemed to have the respect of teammates and leadership qualities to be a reasonably capable coach. As an OC it’s hard to gauge his capabilities. He did oversee successful offenses but did so while under Bruce Arians as the head coach who had plenty of successful offenses during his tenure as a coordinator. I think the best case scenario for Leftwich to get back into the league as a coach would be as a QB coach for one of this year’s rookie qb’s in Chicago, New England or Washington. Let him work with and coach Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels and if that gig is successful he should find an OC job again fairly soon.
Absent Arians, Leftwich was predictable, unimaginable and ultimately unsuccessful here in Tampa Bay. It was painful watching his play calling.
Canales was a huge upgrade…and now, Liam Coen has simply broken the fricken’ mold.
But, I’ll highly support Leftwich getting another shot at any coaching position available…in the NFC South (sans Tampa).
Rooting for him.
I wonder if he’s been choosy because it seems like they give out offensive and defensive analysis jobs like candy to ex coaches
He will end up as Rooney rule fodder.