WEDNESDAY: More smoke is emerging here. The Jags and Leftwich continue to discuss a deal, with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times noting the two sides are working to close out an agreement. A conflicting report, via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, pushes back a bit, indicating the Jags still have Eberflus in the mix and have not yet decided on a direction here (Twitter links). Nathaniel Hackett, who is a finalist for the Broncos’ job as well, is also not out of the mix, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets. Hackett would certainly be an interesting decision, considering the Jags fired him as offensive coordinator in 2018.
Meanwhile, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com writes that the Jaguars “launched” contract talks with Leftwich on Tuesday before the two sides hit an impasse this morning.
TUESDAY: The chances of a Byron Leftwich-Jaguars reunion appear to be improving. The Buccaneers offensive coordinator went through a second Jaguars interview Tuesday, and momentum is building toward a return to the place where his NFL career started.
Leftwich conducted an in-person interview with Shad Khan and GM Trent Baalke, and Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes many around the NFL expect him to land the job. Leftwich joins Colts DC Matt Eberflus as those who have taken second interviews with the Jaguars.
Moving to Tampa after working under both Bruce Arians and Steve Wilks in Arizona, Leftwich has begun sending out staff feelers. Bucs wide receivers coach Kevin Garver and outside linebackers coach Larry Foote are under consideration for a Leftwich-led staff, Wilson adds. Garver, 34, has been with the Bucs throughout Arians’ tenure and began his NFL coaching career with the Cardinals in Arians’ first season (2013). Foote, 41, both played under Arians with the Cards and worked for him in Arizona and Tampa. Leftwich and Foote played together with the Steelers in 2008 and in the early 2010s.
The Jags were under different ownership when they drafted Leftwich seventh overall in 2003. Khan did not own the team during Leftwich’s four-year stay in Jacksonville, though hiring a former Jaguar — one who is now a Super Bowl champion play-caller — may count as a positive step after the Urban Meyer debacle. Here is how the Jags’ coaching search looks as of Tuesday night:
- Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/3
- Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Interviewed 1/4
- Matt Eberflus, defensive coordinator (Colts): Completed second interview 1/20
- Nathaniel Hackett, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- Byron Leftwich, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Cowboys): Interviewed 1/7
- Bill O’Brien, former head coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/13
- Doug Pederson, former head coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/6
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Declined early interview
Please don’t hire him for nostalgia sake, but because he can lead the team. For once Shad, try to win.
No, Shad…don’t listen to this guy.
Only hire people for nostalgia’s sake, irregardless of whether they can lead the team.
Hire Leftwich, Mark Brunnel, Jimmy Smith, Fred Taylor and a bunch of other random 90’s and early 00’s Jags to fill out that staff and then let’s just see what happens.
He’s had 10 years of bad hires, why should I expect this next one to be any better?
Broken Clock Theory?
Can’t leave out Boselli for OL coach
You dont care about winning!
Completely left out
Rashean Mathis as DBs coach
Marcus Stroud as DL coach
Daryl Smith as LBs coach
“WTF?” Eric Bieniemy
“Ditto” Trevor Lawrence
“Moving back to Florida Coach!!!” Josh Rosen
Sad, no one wants that job because of the GM.
Hire Mike Martz.
They should hire Mike Martz.
Is that you, Mike Martz?
Byron checks a lot of boxes but I have to wonder if he can be tough enough to control the always whining Jag players. Obviously they needed to move away from the inflexibility of people like Coughlin and Meyer but going to the other extreme presents other problems.
I think the nostalgia hire is a bad move. I can’t trust left with running a team when Brady was running the offense in TB. More mediocrity to come for Jacksonville. Wonder if TL will force a trade in a couple years
Hate the move as well. He has the least experience of all of the candidates interviewed besides Kellen Moore. This team needed a coach with head coaching experience. That was the one thing we all could at least agree on as Jaguar fans. Khan has never done this once in his tenure. This organization is a shaping up to be a perennial loser for decades under this owner. I mean, the only two organizations to interview Leftwich were the Bears and the Jaguars. That right there has to tell you something. These two clubs are very poorly run. Shad Khan is a terrible owner. His record speaks for itself, 42-120, and until otherwise proven to be the other way around he will keep losing what very little support he has in Jacksonville. The next time you watch a home game look at the stands and if they’re not filled with the other team’s fans, there’s no one there and this hire won’t sell tickets.
You don’t always need a coach who coach before how many good teams hire first year coaches . Rams and they are aplayoff team ever since. Former Miami coach did well with what he had and packers coach you could say it Rogers but he still a decent coach. For a rebuilding team a young coach might be the best choice don’t forget the 49ers Kyle turn that team around since he got there