Byron Leftwich Has More Experience Than You Think
June 30th, 2021
Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich retired in 2012 following three seasons as Steelers backup quarterback. And then he emerged from the golf course as a 2016 coaching intern with the Arizona Cardinals.
But if you ask Leftwich, that’s not really when his coaching career began.
Speaking to NFL.com earlier this year, Leftwich explained that he gave no thought to coaching when he left the game or the opportunities coaching represented.
Simply put, Leftwich said he wasn’t one of those NFL players thinking about his next career — even though he already was impressing as an unofficial coach.
“As a player, you see yourself as a player. You know, I never saw myself as a coach,” Leftwich began. “But when I look back on it, the last half of my career, that’s really what I was doing. That’s really what I was doing to the young Emmanuel Sanders, to the young Antonio Brown, having to be a different set of eyes and ears for Ben Roethlisberger. So it was kind of what I was doing, really, as a backup quarterback because you see everything. You see things more; sometimes the starter is so focused on getting the job done.
“You’ll see things that he’s not probably seeing just because you’re not in that mindset. So you’re able to able to help more, maybe to reach out more, able to get people in position more for the starting quarterbacks so they can have a true understanding of how he’s going to react to different concepts.”
Joe has to think Leftwich’s resume helped lure Tom Brady.
Of course, Brady needed to know whose hip he’d be attached to all season. And he likely felt a ton of comfort knowing it was a guy who not only played the position as a starter but was an active force around a Hall of Fame quarterback in Roethlisberger.
June 30th, 2021 at 7:37 am
BA isn’t just a QB whisperer, he’s a helluva a talent evaluator on and off the field, as his seeing BL’s potential by recognizing of BL’s talent and insight!
June 30th, 2021 at 7:37 am
I will go ahead and flatly say what everyone else who reads this is thinking. Leftwich’s resume did not lure Tom Brady here to Tampa.
June 30th, 2021 at 8:39 am
BL sure did help lure Tom to the BUCS….
Tom saw what jw couldnt do(win with a boat load of weapons or did toss 30INTs) and said I’d love to play in that offense…time and time again BA has said, “I dont do sh!t”, its the OC, DC and leaders in the locker room….
BL will be our next HC!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
June 30th, 2021 at 8:53 am
@BL will be our next HC!!!!
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i hope NOT. we don’t want an other Raheem Morris disaster…. 🤦♂️
June 30th, 2021 at 9:00 am
Leftwich won me over as a potential/future coach when he played on a broken leg in college and had his O-Line pick him up and carry him down field. What a warrior. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U-jzYMSiNH
June 30th, 2021 at 9:56 am
Steve they erased your suggestion. Typical… Must have been an old version.
I mean who wants to be inspired by True Heart? Me! And I’m sure the majority would like to see it as well.
Nice try Steve.
June 30th, 2021 at 10:00 am
Looked it up. Pretty nice throwing considering.Was his leg broken before that play? If so, one hell of a throw.
Go Bucs!
June 30th, 2021 at 10:12 am
Raheem Morris was a hell of a coach. Go look at that roster he was given. To get 10 wins even if it was lucky was amazing. The top brass refused to spend a dime on anything. Morris could have been more mature sure I think he just needed a enforcer like Tony Dungy. A Herm Edwards type. Even a Rod Marinelli would have helped.
What does Raheem and BL have in common??!
June 30th, 2021 at 10:19 am
I think if anything Tom saw Leftwich as coachable.
June 30th, 2021 at 11:32 am
Joe said “Of course, Brady needed to know whose hip he’d be attached to all season. And he likely felt a ton of comfort knowing it was a guy who not only played the position as a starter but was an active force around a Hall of Fame quarterback in Roethlisberger.”
I believe it was much simpler, and quite different. Brady wanted out of NE because he wanted more voice into goings on beyond the QB position, and Belichick and Kraft probably weren’t having any of that. I believe it was actually Leftwich’s inexperience and perhaps (correctly) presumed ability to fill a void at OC that helped Brady realize he would likely have huge weight put on what he (Brady) thinks/wants/recommends….that helped lure him here.
June 30th, 2021 at 11:43 am
This will BLOW YOUR MINDS …
TB12 has more NFL experience than BL or Bowles. You know that.
DYK: BA has been a coach in the NFL for ONLY ONE SEASON longer than TB12.
TB12 taught this coaching staff how to win. Kudos to the coaches for listening.
June 30th, 2021 at 12:31 pm
^^^^^
…exactly !
June 30th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
BL for next head coach!
Trask and BL is very exciting 🙂
June 30th, 2021 at 12:42 pm
The over grown Arnold Jackson wasn’t a bad QB either. Tough as nails.
“What you talkin’ ’bout Willis”
June 30th, 2021 at 9:14 pm
Good stuff.