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Redskins: 30 candidates who could potentially replace Jay Gruden as head coach

By Jacob Camenker

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 06: head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a timeout in the fourth quarter during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on October 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 06: head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a timeout in the fourth quarter during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on October 6, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich of the Arizona Cardinals watches the action during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich of the Arizona Cardinals watches the action during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

10. player. 48. . Offensive Coordinator. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Byron Leftwich

Previously: 10

Byron Leftwich is considered an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks. The former first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars had a decent nine-year NFL career but since becoming a coach, he has been even better.

Leftwich first joined the staff of the Arizona Cardinals as an intern under Bruce Arians. Following his retirement, Leftwich remained with the team as a quarterbacks coach and took over for offensive coordinator Mike McCoy early in Steve Wilks’ lone season as the team’s head coach. While Leftwich didn’t get the team to new heights, he did what he could with a limited arsenal of offensive weaponry and showed some innovative play design at times as well.

With Arians becoming the head coach in Tampa Bay during the 2019 offseason, Leftwich joined on as his offensive coordinator. And in that role, he has done well.

Despite losing Todd Monken and DeSean Jackson, the Bucs offense has largely been great. They still ebb and flow a little bit with Jameis Winston, but Leftwich has ensured that they were able to stay a top-10 unit even with Monken’s departure. And notably, Leftwich helped the team to score 55 points on the road against a solid Los Angeles Rams defense.

Leftwich is still young and could potentially work well with Dwayne Haskins. He should get consideration for a coaching vacancy in Washington and really could continue to climb these rankings if the Bucs offense continues to succeed.

Also, it’s worth noting that Leftwich played for the Buccaneers in 2009 giving him ties to, you guessed it, Bruce Allen. That could have an influence on the team’s willingness to give him a shot despite his relatively thin body of work as a coach.

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