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Leftwich

Leftwich has interviewed with the Ravens, but a year at a high-profile college program could help his stock rebound after last year’s disastrous Bucs offense. There hasn’t been much interest in Leftwich since he was fired by Tampa. Alabama poached OC Tommy Rees from Notre Dame after Bill O’Brien went back to New England, creating this job opening.

The Bucs’ offensive coordinator since 2019, Leftwich was fired from Tampa following the team’s Wild Card loss to Dallas. Leftwich had interest as a head coach last offseason but Baltimore is the only team that’s shown interest in him after coordinating an offense that ranked 25th in points per game (18.4) this past year. Vikings TE coach Brian Angelichio, Broncos OC Justin Outten, Seahawks QB coach Dave Canales, and Georgia OC Todd Monken all have second interviews with the Ravens.

Following the team’s Wild Card loss to the Cowboys on Monday, speculation grew quickly as to whether or not the Buccaneers would retain Leftwich for another season. Once viewed as a hot head coaching candidate, Leftwich opted to remain with the Bucs after a highly successful 2021 campaign in which the team went 13-4 while ranking second in the league in points per game (30.1). This season, however, the Bucs’ offense took a massive step back, ranking dead last in the league in rushing (76.9 yards per game) and 25th in points per game (18.4). It’s safe to say 2022 offered a lot to be desired for Leftwich and the Bucs as a whole. He’ll likely catch on with another team before the start of the season, even if he has to wait for another offensive coordinator position to open up.

The saga continues. The Jaguars are clearly balking at getting rid of GM Trent Baalke, and trying to form some sort of coalition in which he can stay. On a related note, it’s February 3 and they don’t have a head coach yet. Doug Pederson and Rich Bisaccia remain candidates for the position, per Stroud.

This is all conjecture that has been vaguely alluded to at this point, but here it is out in the open. All momentum was pointing towards the Jaguars hiring Leftwich in the middle of last week before he presented Adrian Wilson as a GM candidate and suggested he wouldn’t want to work with embattled current GM Baalke. The Jaguars are currently in a holding pattern as they try to find a head coach and GM who actually will want to work together, with the current heavy rumor being Rick Spielman, Doug Pederson, and Baalke employed but reporting to Spielman.

The dysfunctional Jags are galaxy-braining their latest head coaching search; Bisaccia will be their ninth head coaching interview. Bisaccia, 61, who wasn’t retained by the Raiders and was nearly certain to be Chicago’s next special teams coach as of last week, now has a shot to land Jacksonville’s top job. Well liked by Raiders players and fans alike, Bisaccia is no one’s idea of a long-term coach who can turn around a hopelessly bumbling franchise like the Jaguars. Apparently the team was not as sold on Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich as some reports indicated.

Leftwich is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Jacksonville but won’t put pen to paper unless GM Trent Baalke is relieved of his duties. That keeps Leftwich, a logical choice to develop New Orleans’ next quarterback (whomever that may be), on the open market for at least a few more hours. The Saints are also reportedly interested in Lions DC Aaron Glenn and in-house DC Dennis Allen.

Adam Schefter quickly followed up with a report that the Jaguars are continuing to talk with Leftwich, along with Colts DC Matt Eberflus and others, but are not close to a deal with anyone. Still, Leftwich was already considered the favorite for the Jaguars job, and the odds of him landing the job appear to be increasing slightly. Leftwich’s connection with the Jaguars and his impressive resume as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator make him a logical choice to wake up Trevor Lawrence’s promising skill set from an Urban Meyer induced coma.

It’s a lot of words to say “is the favorite,” but source-ese is complex. Jacksonville’s second interview with Leftwich is happening tonight in Tampa. The Jaguars have also done a second interview with Colts DC Matt Eberflus, Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett, Bucs DC Todd Bowles and former Colts and Lions HC Jim Caldwell are also reportedly still in the running.

Leftwich has also interviewed with the Bears. After playing in Jacksonville for four years, Leftwich would be a backup for a handful of other franchises before starting his coaching career in Arizona. Leftwich worked his way up the ladder and eventually earned to offensive coordinator gig in Tampa Bay. He served as the play-caller starting in 2019. Leftwich is a rising star in coaching circles and his previous connection to the Jaguars makes him a strong candidate to land the head-coaching gig.