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Byron Leftwich is out as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator.
The Buccaneers are parting ways with the 43-year-old Leftwich following a disappointing season, which ended Monday in a 31-14 loss to the Cowboys in the wild-card round of the playoffs, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported Thursday.
Leftwich, a former NFL quarterback, was Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator for four seasons. He had worked under the team’s former head coach, Bruce Arians, during his time with the Cardinals in previous years.
During the 2020 season, Leftwich’s first working with new Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, the team reached the Super Bowl and defeated the Chiefs, 31-9.
Lightning didn’t strike twice for the Buccaneers a year later, however, as the team was ousted in the divisional round of the playoffs by the Rams, who went on to win Super Bowl 2022.
The Buccaneers underwent major changes ahead of the 2022 regular season, with Arians stepping down as coach and moving to the front office. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was named his successor.
Though Brady, 45, returned to the Buccaneers in March 2022 following a 40-day retirement, the team struggled throughout the regular season and ended the year at 8-9.
Bowles also announced Chris Boniol (specialists), Kevin Garver (wide receivers), Jeff Kastl (offensive quality control), Lori Locust (assistant defensive line) and Todd McNair (running backs) will not return next season.
In addition, quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, senior offensive assistant Rick Christophel and outside linebackers coach Bob Sanders have decided to retire, the team said.
“We appreciate the hard work and contributions that all of these coaches made to our successes over the past four seasons,” Bowles said.
“As a collective group, we did not meet the high standards that had been set for this past year and my focus now is on doing what is needed to ensure a successful 2023 season,” Bowles added. “These were very difficult decisions, but something that I felt was necessary for our football team going forward.”
— with AP
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