Report: Jaguars interviewing Bucs OC, former QB Byron Leftwich for HC job

Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich certainly has his plate full as he helps lead Tampa Bay into Week 18 and the subsequent postseason, but that doesn't mean he can't have his eyes on his future as well.

Leftwich is interviewing for the Jaguars' head-coaching opening on Friday, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Jacksonville requested permission just before the end of 2021 to interview Leftwich, whose Bucs are set to host the Panthers on Sunday in the regular-season finale.

It would be a triumphant return to Duval County for Leftwich, who played the first four seasons of his career as a quarterback with the Jaguars. After being drafted seventh overall out of Marshall in 2003, he finished his time in Jacksonville ranked fourth in franchise history in passing yards (9,042), passing touchdowns (51) and completions (789).

Following the 2006 season, Leftwich spent the next six years as a backup and occasional starter for the Falcons, Steelers and Bucs. In his first stint with Pittsburgh in 2008, he helped win a championship as Ben Roethlisberger's backup as the Steelers defeated the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

In 2016, Leftwich joined the Cardinals as a coaching intern under his former offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh and Arizona head coach Bruce Arians. He was then promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2017 before becoming the interim offensive coordinator in 2018, although he was fired at the end of the season.

When Arians became the head coach in Tampa Bay in early 2019, he brought Leftwich along with him as offensive coordinator. The Bucs have ranked in the top seven in the NFL in total offense each of Leftwich's three seasons on the job, including leading the league with 6,492 yards of total offense in 2021 going into Week 18 behind quarterback Tom Brady.

The Jaguars have interviewed or requested/scheduled interviews with a number of candidates, including Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, former Eagles Super Bowl champion coach Doug Pederson and Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Jacksonville fired embattled former college coach Urban Meyer after a 2-11 start to the 2021 season, his first with the team.