Byron Leftwich reaches out to Notre Dame regarding open offensive coordinator position

It appears that after parting ways with the Buccaneers, former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will not have to wait too long before receiving serious interest from other suitors. According to a recent report from 247Sports’ Grace Remington and Tom Loy, Leftwich is a “serious contender” for the current vacancy at offensive coordinator for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Per the report, Leftwich initiated the conversation between the two sides, gauging the Fighting Irish’s head coach, Marcus Freeman’s interest in the two teaming up following the departure of Notre Dame’s previous offensive coordinator. Former offensive coordinator Tommy Rees recently left the program to take over the same position under Nick Saban at Alabama.

Notre Dame is still one of the top and more prestigious programs and college football. However, with the Fighting Irish’s Freeman specializing in defense, a new set of eyes on offense could be just what the doctor ordered. And given Leftwitch’s level of success at the NFL level, he could be just what the Irish need to get over the hump and earn a bid into next season’s College Football Playoffs.

Notre Dame legend Tim Brown sounds off on Rees’ departure

Tommy Rees made waves this weekend with his decision to leave Notre Dame and take the offensive coordinator job at Alabama. However, while some see it as a negative to lose your offensive coordinator at this point heading into the spring, Tim Brown sees it as a real positive.

Brown was blunt about his thoughts on Rees leaving for Tuscaloosa on Twitter. He says he thinks it’s ‘a great day for Irish football’ considering how ‘predictable’ the offense looked and how they can move on from playing ‘hero ball’.

Rees spent the last three seasons in South Bend as the Fighting Irish’s OC. In that time, they finished 42nd, 20th, and 30th in the country with an average of 33.5 points per game.

Even so, Brown’s criticisms went on, including a jab saying Rees was obviously reliant on Brian Kelly.

Brown can have his opinion but, at the end of the day, Saban hired him for a reason. Now we’ll have to wait and see if Notre Dame prospers on offense while Alabama struggles or if the Tide are the ones who came out on top with this one.