The Chicago Bears interviewed Byron Leftwich for their coaching vacancy. Here’s what to know about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator.

The Chicago Bears have reached out to at least 15 general manager and 10 coaching candidates for interviews. As they go through the process, we’re looking at each of the prospective hires.

Byron Leftwich interviewed for the coach opening Thursday, the team announced.

<mark class="hl_orange">Byron Leftwich</mark>

Title: Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator

Age: 42.

Experience

Leftwich has been the Bucs offensive coordinator under coach Bruce Arians for three seasons, including during the 2020 run to the Super Bowl LV victory in Tom Brady’s first season in Tampa, Fla..

In Leftwich’s first season with the Bucs calling plays in 2019, he directed the top-ranked passing offense in yards per game as Jameis Winston threw for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. The Bucs passing offense the last two seasons with Brady has ranked second and first in the NFL, respectively.

Leftwich started his career with Arians and the Arizona Cardinals as an intern in 2016 before he became the quarterbacks coach in 2017 and offensive coordinator in 2018.

You should know

Leftwich started 50 games and played in 60 over nine seasons as a quarterback with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons and Bucs. He threw for 10,532 yards 58 touchdown passes, 42 interceptions and 78.9 passer rating in his career. He finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in his senior season at Marshall.

Chicago connection

As a player, Leftwich played only one game against the Bears — a 22-3 Jaguars victory in 2004. Leftwich threw for 242 yards, two touchdowns and an interception to Nathan Vasher.

What’s been said

Arians was upset Leftwich didn’t get a head coaching interview last year at this time.

“He’s everything everybody is supposedly looking for — a quarterback, a playcaller and he’s African-American, so I mean, I don’t know what else you’re looking for,” Arians said before the Super Bowl. “He’s a great leader.

“I was very, very pissed that Byron didn’t at least get an interview this year for the job that he has done. I get way too much credit, and so does Tom Brady, for the job Byron has done.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3FXpWUN