Report: Byron Leftwich makes major decision on Jaguars coaching job

Byron Leftwich has felt like the perfect fit to go back to the city where he played, mentor former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence and revitalize the Jacksonville Jaguars.

According to a report on Thursday, that won’t be happening.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Leftwich is expected to pull his name out of consideration for the opening.

According to Pro Football Talk, Byron Leftwich’s path to the job appeared to hit a snag because he was not interested in working with General Manager Trent Baalke. Cardinals vice president of pro personnel Adrian Wilson was Leftwich’s preferred choice for the job, but the failure to move forward suggests the Jaguars weren’t interested in making a change.

The Jags have since spoken to former Vikings G.M. Rick Spielman about a role in the front office that would reportedly have him reporting to owner Shad Khan directly. Former Eagles coach Doug Pederson and former Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia have had the most recent interviews for the head coaching job. It was Pederson’s second interview with the team.

Recent Byron Leftwich reports hinted deal wouldn’t be met

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been heavily tied to one of the most memorable players to suit up for their franchise to come back home and revamp a franchise that has struggled for decades.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is one of the the most meaningful player in the history of the franchise. The former Marshall star was drafted by the organization in the 2003 NFL Draft and went on to take the starting job from Mark Brunell.

Leftwich led the Jacksonville Jaguars to two winning seasons, including a trip to the playoffs in 2005.

Since forming a close bond with Tom Brady–and earning his trust– Leftwich orchestrated the high-powered offense that brought Tampa Bay its first Super Bowl last year. In 2021, the Buccaneers ranked second in the NFL in total offense in 2022, just behind the Dallas Cowboys.

While multiple reports this week have linked the former Jags’ passer as the frontrunner to fill the vacancy left by Urban Meyer, other reporters and insiders say a deal for Leftwich to return to the Jacksonville Jaguars is possible, but far from a done deal as they continue to interview top-tier candidates.