Bucs fire OC Leftwich as part of huge shakeup
Byron Leftwich is out as offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are shaking up their coaching staff after finishing with the only losing record Tom Brady
has had in more than two decades as a NFL starter.
Leftwich, 43, was fired Thursday, three days after the Bucs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Dallas Cowboys and just two years removed from helping Brady win a record seventh Super Bowl in the quarterback’s first season with Tampa Bay.
Bucs coach Todd
also announced
(specialists), (wide receivers),
(offensive quality control), Lori Locust (assistant defensive line) and Todd McNair (running backs) will not return
Bowles Chris Boniol Kevin Garver Jeff Kastl
next season.
In addition, quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, senior offensive assistant Rick Christophel and outside linebackers coach Bob Sanders have decided to retire, the team said.
”We appreciate the hard work and contributions that all of these coaches made to our successes over the past four seasons,” Bowles said.
“As a collective group, we did not meet the high standards that had been set for this past year and my focus now is on doing what is needed to ensure a successful 2023 season,” he added. “These were very difficult decisions, but something that I felt was necessary for our football team going forward.”
The Bucs went 8-9 during the regular season, but nevertheless held off the Carolina Panthers,
New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons to repeat as NFC South champions. They became only the fourth team in league history to make the playoffs with a losing record in a non-strike season.
Brady’s contract expires this winter, and the 45-year-old quarterback hasn’t given any indication if he plans to retire, return to the Bucs for a fourth season, or possibly move on to another team.
It’s not known how the decision to fire Leftwich might impact Brady’s plans.
ELSEWHERE
Ravens: Shortly before the Baltimore Ravens’ coach and general manager met with reporters to wrap up the season, offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s agency announced he was stepping away to pursue other opportunities.
It was the first big move for what could be the league’s most intriguing team this offseason.
The question, obviously, is whether the next coordinator will have
Lamar Jackson at quarterback. General manager
Eric DeCosta said at Thursday’s news conference that the team will start negotiating again with Jackson, who has reached the end of his rookie contract.
“It certainly takes two to tango, but I think Lamar and I have a great relationship. I think we communicate quite often. We spent some time together today as a matter of fact,” DeCosta said. “These negotiations … they all happen differently. Ronnie Stanley’s contract took about a year and a half. Mark Andrews’ contract took probably three or four days.”
Cowboys:
Maher was perfect on all six field goals reporters were allowed to see at Dallas’ practice Thursday.
The beleaguered kicker who made NFL history — regular season or playoffs — by missing his first four extra points in a wild-card victory over Tampa Bay must be heeding star running back Ezekiel Elliott’s advice.
“That’s our brother.
We’re not going to turn our back on him,” Elliott said after practice. “Last week, we didn’t really need him. But this week we probably will. So get that [stuff] together.”
Hey, the Cowboys are in a good mood after ending an eight-game road playoff losing streak with the 31-14 victory over Brady and the Buccaneers.
Now it’s on to the sixgame losing streak in the divisional round — the longest skid since the 1970 merger — when Dallas
(13-5) visits San Francisco (14-4) on Sunday night.
Maher took a big step toward being the kicker against the 49ers based on what reporters saw in gusty winds at practice.
Tristan Vizcaino followed with two misses in five attempts a day after the Cowboys signed him to the practice squad in case the yips continued for Maher.