The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich along with several other coaches on staff, the team announced.
Leftwich, a former NFL quarterback, spent the past four seasons dictating plays in Tampa Bay. Head coach Todd Bowles also decided to part ways with four other offensive assistants. The Tampa Bay Times was the first to report Leftwich’s firing.
The Bucs finished a disappointing 8-9 this season, but still won the NFC South. The team was expected to stop calling the play after the offense struggled most of the season and ignited with a 31-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round of the playoffs.
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Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before a game against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Ehrman/Getty Images)
Shortly after Leftwich’s playing days ended, he became a trainee coach with the Arizona Cardinals under coach Bruce Arians. Two seasons later, he was named the interim offensive coordinator before following the Arians to Tampa Bay in 2019.
Leftwich is credited with marrying Arians’ offense with elements of the Patriots’ offensive system that quarterback Tom Brady led during his time in New England.
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Leftwich and Brady got off to a successful start together as the Buccaneers won the 2021 Super Bowl. In Brady’s first two seasons with Tampa Bay, the team averaged over 30 points per game, the most in the NFL.
But, in 2022, Tampa Bay’s offensive production dropped considerably. The team averaged 18.4 points per game, which ranked 25th in the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) sits with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich during an NFC Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 16, 2023 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
(Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The offense became increasingly one dimensional as the season progressed due to their inability to run the ball. The Bucs averaged 76.9 yards per game on the ground, worst in the NFL. In response, Brady threw a career-high 765 passes.
Injuries also set the Bucs’ offense back this season, as several key offensive linemen and wide receivers missed time. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s former teammate at New England and Tampa Bay, opted to walk away from football during the offseason, and right guard Alex Cappa left in free agency.
The Bucs’ front office tried to replace the production of wide receiver Antonio Brown with veteran Julio Jones. But some pointed to Leftwich’s inability to adjust to the staff week-to-week and his inability to help revive a stagnant offense.
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Brady is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. It’s unclear where he’ll end up in 2023, but it’s likely the Bucs want to get the quarterback back.
Whoever the team chooses as its next offensive coordinator could play a role in Brady’s decision.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tom Brady (12) talks with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Tampa, Florida.
(Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The team also announced the departure of several other staff members.
Stunts coach Chris Boniol, wide receivers coach Kevin Garver, offensive quality control coach Jeff Kastl, assistant defensive line coach Lori Locust and running backs coach Todd McNair were all fired.
Additionally, quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, senior offensive assistant Rick Christophel, and outside linebackers coach Bob Sanders decided to retire as coaches.
«We appreciate the hard work and contributions all of these coaches have made to our successes over the past four seasons,» Bowles said in a statement.
«As a collective group, we fell short of the high standards that had been set for last year, and my focus now is on doing what is necessary to ensure a successful 2023 season. Those were very difficult decisions, but something I felt was necessary for us to our soccer team to keep going.
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Last year, Leftwich was one of the most sought after head coaching candidates in the league. He completed two interviews with the Jaguars, and the Bears and Saints also showed interest in the 43-year-old playcaller.