Former Tremendous Bowl-winning offensive coordinator and longtime NFL beginning quarterback Byron Leftwich has joined Deion Sanders’ employees at Colorado. Sanders launched Leftwich throughout a staff assembly Tuesday, as revealed in a video posted by Thee Pregame Show. Leftwich interviewed for a number of jobs on the NFL degree lately however is now tasked with growing a pivotal quarterback room in Boulder.
“With the quarterbacks, he’s going to do what he does. He has a wealth of information. With him and Pat [Shurmur] and what the entire employees brings offensively, we’ll go to a different degree,” Sanders mentioned to the staff with Leftwich at his aspect. “It is best to really feel blessed. This man is aware of what he’s doing and he will be an intricate a part of our success. I already know that. So let’s welcome Coach Leftwich.”
Leftwich, 45, served as offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019-22, serving to lead the franchise to Super Bowl LV whereas teaching Tom Brady. He had a meteoric rise after beginning his profession as a training intern in 2016, ascending by the Arizona Cardinals group. Leftwich has been interviewed for a number of NFL head-coaching jobs however by no means landed a type of coveted roles.
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Having a knack for producing prolific quarterbacks, in all 4 seasons as an offensive coordinator with the Buccaneers, Leftwich helped orchestrate a top-two passing offense every season. Teaching Brady actually helped, however Leftwich coached Brady to his first 5,000-yard season and 40-touchdown marketing campaign in additional than a decade.
Colorado’s fascinating QB scenario in 2025 season
With quarterback Shedeur Sanders off to the NFL, the Buffaloes have a significant query on the place. Ryan Staub, Sanders’ backup for 2 seasons, is again, however the quarterback competitors is anticipated to come back right down to heralded freshman Julian Lewis and Kaidon Salter, a switch from Liberty. Lewis ranked because the No. 10 quarterback within the nation, whereas Salter received Convention USA MVP in 2023 after main the Flames to the Fiesta Bowl.
Lewis, particularly, is seen as the way forward for this system. He has obtained comparisons to Bryce Younger for his processing and decision-making regardless of reclassifying and skipping his senior season of highschool. Leftwich ought to be a sensational presence for Lewis early in his profession.
Whereas the offense belongs to offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, Leftwich must also have the ability to assist Salter develop as a passer. The senior averaged 9.9 yards per try throughout his breakout sophomore season, however has solely accomplished 58.7% of passes for his profession. A notable leap in accuracy may make him a possible NFL Draft prospect.
Leftwich joins a Colorado employees full of former NFL stars. Sanders employed fellow Corridor of Famers working again Marshall Faulk and defensive lineman Warren Sapp to place coach roles. Shurmur and defensive coordinator Robert Livingston additionally spent most of their careers on the skilled degree.
The Buffaloes face a pivotal season in 2025 after Shedeur Sanders and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter left for the NFL Draft after a breakout 9-4 season. It is unclear at this level what formal position Leftwich will play on Sanders’ employees, however he ought to have loads of perception for the quarterbacks.
Previous to his teaching profession, Leftwich was a prolific participant at each the NFL and faculty ranges. He threw for greater than 10,000 yards throughout a 10-year profession with 50 begins and received a Tremendous Bowl as a backup for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009. He was additionally two-time MAC MVP at Marshall, main the Thundering Herd to a 22-4 document over two seasons.