Bryon Leftwich Won’t Interview Until At Least Mid-January
May 28th, 2022
Byron Leftwich
The wacky and flawed NFL rules surrounding interviewing head coaching candidates have changed again.
And the net result for Bucs fans is that offensive coordinator/playcaller Byron Leftwich won’t be trotting off for a head coach interview until at least mid-January, assuming the Bucs make the playoffs.
(If the Bucs aren’t one of the 7 of 16 NFC teams in the playoffs, Leftwich might not get a phone call.
ProFootballTalk.com has a full report today on the NFL rule change.
… teams cannot interview a head-coaching candidate who is employed by another NFL team until the third day after the conclusion of that team’s Week 18 game. This specifically applies to assistant coaches working for teams that did not qualify for the playoffs or that earned a first-round bye. For teams that play in the wild-card round, assistant coaches cannot be interviewed until the following Tuesday (for Saturday and Sunday games) or Wednesday (for the Monday game).
… Before the end of the wild-card round, in-person interviews may occur only with candidates employed by the team hiring a head coach or candidates not currently employed by the NFL.
Joe realizes a lot of people like the rule change and some think no NFL employee should be interviewed until after the Super Bowl. But Joe finds all of that goofy and restrictive, and gives college coaches a leg up as well as unemployed retread coaches.
If a team wants to interview Leftwich for its head coaching gig during the Bucs’ pre-Thanksgiving bye week, why should he be denied that opportunity? Who does that serve? Certainly not Leftwich.
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May 28th, 2022 at 2:20 pm
Another dumb decision by the nfl. Given what Leftwich has accomplished, he should already be a head coach and I honestly wish that he were our head coach, but Bowles would have been my second choice. Sorry coaches like Lovie and Dennis Allen get second (or more) chances and our guy can’t even get sniffed by any team but the gosh awful jaguars?!?
May 28th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Joe, we all know where this is going. By this time next year, teams will only be able to interview coaches after the superbowl. I think it’s fair, or rather unfair for all, as it should be. College coaches are always going to have a leg up as far as timing. These teams basically already know who they want anyway. A system that is unfair for all, is better than a system that is only unfair to some.
And what happens when an offensive coordinator asks his team to fire him so he can interview early and gain an advantage?? It will NEVER be fair for all. And what about the retread coach? Why let that guy have a couple of dinners and interviews in December and January as the clocks tick and owners get nervous about guys they can’t talk to. –Joe.
May 28th, 2022 at 2:37 pm
Zilla, the main reason more teams didn’t want BL, is a product of Brady. I suspect the only reason BL was interviewed was to fulfill the Rooney rule. These teams know who they want. Unless you bomb an interview, it’s a formality. The Rooney rule needs to be amended. Maybe an independent person in the room, approved by both the league and the NFLPA. I don’t know. All I know is that it’s a joke. Maybe the Flores lawsuit will provide some transparency.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:02 pm
Leftwich is not head coach material. Stop propping up this guy Joe’s and all the Bucs homers on this site. And to your question Joe, who does it serve? It serves the playoff teams with aspirations of winning the championship. Because the assistants should be locked in during the playoffs. Bowles and Leftwich both interviewed this year just before playoff games and the team looked totally unprepared to play against the Rams. With terrible game plans on both sides of the ball. So good job to the NFL for getting something right here!
May 28th, 2022 at 3:16 pm
@ Red-sparrow
You may be right but I hope at least one NFL team disagrees with you…
I just want those comp picks buddy. I believe we would get two 3rd rnd picks.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:16 pm
Red Sparrow, your comment makes literally no sense. The fact that you don’t think Leftwich is head coaching material is even more silly.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:20 pm
So let’s worry about it in January.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Whew…… now I can sleep easy for the rest of the year knowing THE MASTERMIND won’t be distracted and can continue to craft his 1st down run up the middle for 1.6 yards and throwing it long on 3rd and 2.
We are truly blessed.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Speaking about Lawsuits, please do not forget about John Gruden’s lawsuit.
I think after the Gruden and Flores Lawsuits, we will see changes coming to the NFL.
Unless both Gruden and Flores are paid Hush Money, then it will be business as usual for the NFL.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
No one can tell me that Todd and BL interviewing for HC jobs during the playoffs last January didn’t affect the team’s preparation. Hence Brady’s “now is not the time to go to the movies…time to lock-in” comment.
Like Joe says a lot – I don’t believe in coincidences. Especially on defense when all the starters were back. Man did that suck.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Here’s what the rule should be about hiring coaches: No rules. Do whatever you want whenever you want.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Is BL head coach material?……….Maybe…..but, for me, if I’m an owner, I want a HC that can hold a presser without butchering the English language…..
I know, I know….that shouldn’t matter in the NFL…..but it matters with every executive position and the HC is an executive.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:48 pm
Does the minority coaches get an early start? A total unprejudiced way saying I hate these terrible minority rules. The best man/woman should win the job, no matter what skin color. I feel that is demeaning to those minority coaches. Trillion dollar NFL shows how much they beg for equality.
May 28th, 2022 at 3:55 pm
The best thing to happen to BL is Brady at QB. If BL doesn’t adjust his playbook or play calling he’s a 1-2 yr HC. He needs to mature for the HC. But for Brady he’s a good fit. We will see a lot of Brady in the playcalling decisions this year. Bruce was the hiccuping the last two years.
May 28th, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Adrnagy
Agreed. He is not all he’s hyped up to be imo. See him get hired by a bad team without Brady’s offense and Bowles defense. Best of luck to him when he does leave.
May 28th, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Neither Bowles or BL are HC material. Bowles had his chance and failed miserably as he did in the final game last year, which proves he’s not a good at multitasking. I agree with GOB, BL needs to prove himself without Brady manning the ship. Whether it was BA’s or BL’s offense in 2019 it failed and he was the OC. There are only a handful of GREAT coaches in the NFL, and they ain’t one of them.
May 28th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
These are extra well-paid NFL jobs – not regular corporate America jobs. I’m not interested in what’s fair to the coaches regarding interviewing opportunities- The integrity of the game is compromised when coaches are not giving 100% attention to game preparation during playoff week.
When coaches interview while their team’s season is still ongoing – it’s cheating the players and fans . No honor among thieves.
May 28th, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Joe, I disagree with your premise. Like I said, unless a coach completely bombs an interview, these owners already know who they’ll hire. If you can’t articulate a direction for the organization, and explain your program, are you really HC material anyway? I doubt that a couple extra dinner meetings would make much difference. I didn’t say it’s a fair system. I said that with the new rules, it becomes unfair for all. That’s a better system than one that favors the few. No coach worth his salt, would ask to be fired. If you’re a good coach, the jobs will be there.
@SOEbuc, I totally agree. It’s horribly demeaning and disparaging.
A minority hire should never be in the position to feel like the only reason he/she got the job was because of the color of their skin. The Rooney rule, while good in it’s intent, actually hurts minority candidates.
May 28th, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Listnfrmafar Says:
May 28th, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Neither Bowles or BL are HC material. Bowles had his chance and failed miserably as he did in the final game last year, which proves he’s not a good at multitasking. I agree with GOB, BL needs to prove himself without Brady manning the ship. Whether it was BA’s or BL’s offense in 2019 it failed and he was the OC. There are only a handful of GREAT coaches in the NFL, and they ain’t one of them.
^^^^^^^^
It couldn’t have anything to do with Bowles being the HC of one of the worst ran organizations in football, right? Have you ever heard of HC’s named Bill Belichick (Cleveland), Pete Carroll (Pats & Jets), or Mike Shanahan (Raiders), all Super Bowl winning coaches who “failed miserably” at their first head coaching gigs. I’m not predicting this kind of success for Bowles, but I’m going to give him a chance, unlike you.
May 28th, 2022 at 5:16 pm
I agree with many on here (not joe, I guess). I felt that interviews of our coaches before we finished playoff games was VERY bad. It takes a LOT of preparation to interview for a job that will boost you up to the top of something. It would have better been spent on our team, imo, and I said so at the time it was happening. I don’t fully understand it all yet, but it seems like a big improvement to me.
May 28th, 2022 at 5:30 pm
Joeinmichigan@ get your facts straight both Belichick in Cleveland and Carroll with the Pat’s made the playoffs. Bowles did NOT!
May 28th, 2022 at 5:31 pm
Joe in Michigan, the only thing I disagree with is Bill. Belichick was on the verge of a dynasty in Cleveland until the disgusting owner moved the team. Bill made the trade that would’ve turned into Ray Lewis. I agree that the Jets were an abject mess during bowles tenure. They signed a bunch of washed up players to one or two year deals. I believe Brady gave his seal of approval for bowles. He faced his team six times. These coaches all need the QB. Pete’s second time around, he had Wilson. MS had elway. Before that he was the OC for Steve Young. Now bowles has Brady. Like you, I’m willing to give TB a chance. I don’t think BL is HC material though.
May 28th, 2022 at 5:34 pm
FYI Carroll only coached one season with the Jets, Bowles 4, not a fair comparison.
May 28th, 2022 at 5:39 pm
GOB, I disagree Bowles had 4 seasons to change personal and players, his record got worse each season unlike Belichick and Carroll. Joe in Michigan you’re going to dig deeper for other comparisons.
May 28th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Listnfrmafar, bowles never had pull in the GMs room. His QBs were Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty, Geno Smith, Josh McCown and Sam Darnold. That’s in a division with Tom Brady. The defense got better in each of his first two years, but you can’t win with QBs like that.
I don’t think bowles is a great coach, but is a vast improvement from BA
May 28th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Forgive Joe in Michigan……
He can’t help himself.
He just has to defend the weak….. it’s his weakness.
I mean, he’s from Michigan.
I think there might be something in the water.
May 28th, 2022 at 6:52 pm
GOB, per your observation about Jets quarterbacks during Bowles’ tenure:
“ Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty, Geno Smith, Josh McCown and Sam Darnold.”
When Fitzy is your best qb, thats a lineup that rivals The Shining for horror shows. Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells, hell, pick your favorite coach. You’re not winning games with those scrubs behind center.
Listophrrnic also disparaged BL for 2019. I believe the Bucs had a top 3 offense with Pick6 Jamiss behind center. But BL has to prove himself without Brady?
BL has already done that.
May 28th, 2022 at 7:09 pm
We can agree to disagree without being disagreeable. Like I said, I’m no Todd bowles fan. His play calling in the divisional round was unforgivable. We’ll see if he learned his lesson. GOB calls em like I see em. More running, more play pass, LESS BLITZING!!!
May 28th, 2022 at 7:12 pm
I’m not disagreeing with you this time GOB! I actually agree with you in this thread. Bowles deserves a chance, noting his QB horror show with Hets but also noting his cerebral implosion in Rams game – a skeptical eye.
May 28th, 2022 at 7:35 pm
I love the banter and have no axe to grind GF. Bowles strikes me as a “we do what we do, stop it” kinda coach. I keep hearing all these Bill Belichick comparisons. I don’t quite understand the logic behind that opinion here. My vote of temperate confidence in bowles, is mostly rooted in my distaste for BA
For what it’s worth, this I what I think happened leading to Bowles hire. Brady asked for a trade. Ownership said no, you’re playing for us, or not at all. Brady said fine, I’ll stay retired unless you oust that boob of a coach. The bucs responded, fine it’s bowles or nothing. Brady agrees.
May 28th, 2022 at 7:40 pm
DoooshLaRue Says:
May 28th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Forgive Joe in Michigan……
He can’t help himself.
He just has to defend the weak….. it’s his weakness.
I mean, he’s from Michigan.
I think there might be something in the water.
^^^^^^^
You’re the Durable Donnie of posters, Dooosh!
May 28th, 2022 at 7:42 pm
Listnfrmafar Says:
May 28th, 2022 at 5:30 pm
Joeinmichigan@ get your facts straight both Belichick in Cleveland and Carroll with the Pat’s made the playoffs. Bowles did NOT!
^^^^^^^^
Were all of these guys fired from their first head coaching gigs? Yes? Okay then.
May 28th, 2022 at 7:49 pm
Belichick in Cleveland:
1991: 6-10
1992: 7-9
1993: 7-9
1994: 11-5
1995: 5-11
Dynasty? Really?
Carroll in New York:
1994: 6-10
Shanahan with Raiders:
1988: 7-9
1989: 1-3
May 28th, 2022 at 7:56 pm
He’s GOB I know that’s what you think about BA-Bradygate conspiracy.
I vehemently disagree but move on. Bowles is now the HC after a heinous defensive gameplan and play alliance against the Rams. Lots of good undone by that fiasco. But per Ira, he did have the defense perform pretty well in the regular season (except against the Rams) despite injuries galore. We’ve got Brady and great WR weapons. A good OL, good stable of RBs. TB and Lenny click in the passing game. Gronk probably comes back.
Should be a good season as long as Bowles doesn’t have more brain diarrhea.
May 28th, 2022 at 9:35 pm
GF, if you vehemently disagree, please tell me what you think happened. Did BA have some sudden change of of heart, after he announced he was calling plays this year? Did he have a mental health episode? Was he just tired of the whole damn thing? Did his Giselle tell him to quit? All the circumstantial evidence is to the contrary. Occam’s razor is all we have to go on
May 28th, 2022 at 11:11 pm
That “something in MI water” is lead. Just ask residents of Flint.
May 28th, 2022 at 11:56 pm
GOB, it was Mr Mustard in the Study with the candlestick.
LOL
I don’t know what happened any more than you or anyone else does, but I don’t believe the big conspiracy stuff. Too many players, coaches and Buc employees would have seen it to be that “bottled up.” The conspiracy stuff is popular because people get little chubbies pretending it’s real and talking about it. Adds excitement to their boring lives.
Maybe, sometimes, it’s actually that BA wanted his protege to have his best chance to succeed and here it is. And, despite the health disclaimers, BA at 70 with a blown Achilles and a heart that has seen its share of stress…..yeah. Time to do what he did.
I know you despise BA but other than nut job AB, find another player or coach that worked for him to say anything negative.
May 28th, 2022 at 11:59 pm
Yesterday
May 29th, 2022 at 6:45 am
Suh
May 29th, 2022 at 7:02 am
BL is head coaching material as long as Brady is his assistant.
May 29th, 2022 at 8:01 am
How about the guys coach the teams that are paying them to win games rather than be distracted looking for their next gig. Could it be we were not as well prepared for the Rams because our coaches were worrying about interviews instead of game plans? I’m not feeling sorry for guys making millions crying because they have to wait a few weeks to make more millions. Sanity check please.
May 29th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
May not serve BL but it will certainly serve the Bucs. Whose more important. Don’t need distractions during the season.
May 29th, 2022 at 8:26 pm
BL — tell your boss to tell Jason to sign Suh.
May 30th, 2022 at 11:29 am
Bowles deserves a chance its had to be successful in new york period.