Originally appeared at Steelers Now: Report: Steelers Rule Out Byron Leftwich as OC Candidate
The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator search is underway, and even though no interviews have been done just yet by the team, Mike Tomlin and the team are already pegging the correct way to go about the hire. One heavily speculated name played under Tomlin and was a Super Bowl Champion in Tampa Bay. That would be Byron Leftwich.
Leftwich, a former 10-year NFL veteran quarterback, spent four seasons as the backup to Ben Roethlisberger with the Steelers (2008, 2010-2012). After his playing days concluded, Leftwich joined his former offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians, in Arizona as a coach and later followed him to Tampa Bay to become the team’s offensive coordinator. In his time with the Bucs, Leftwich helped guide the team to a victory in Super Bowl LV but was fired by the team last offseason. He did not get another NFL job for 2023.
He reportedly reached out to offer his help on the offensive side of the football, but Pittsburgh rebuffed his interest. And according to Mark Kaboly of the Athletic, it is unlikely that Leftwich will land the offensive coordinator job, either.
“It is not going to be Leftwich,” Kaboly said in an interview on 93.7 the Fan. “I could tell you who not more than who it’s going to be.”
But Leftwich has earned endorsements from former players, including Ben Roethlisberger, who would love to see Leftwich engineer Pittsburgh’s offense.
“I would love to see Byron Leftwich come in here and be the OC,” Roethlisberger said. “He was here, he played here with Coach T, understands what it is to be a Steeler. I think he is a great OC.”
It seems unlikely Leftwich will land the job, so the Steelers will look elsewhere to the outside influence. Whoever that might be, is anyone’s best guess but interviews will likely start to roll in next week and that could shift the odds on the next offensive coordinator in a hurry.
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