Who could replace Byron Leftwich as Bucs’ offensive coordinator?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started an offseason of overhaul Thursday morning, firing offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, as well as a handful of other assistant coaches.
Leftwich’s offenses put up some big numbers over his first three seasons with the Bucs, but this year’s dismal showing was too much for head coach Todd Bowles and the rest of the team’s leadership to bear.
The Bucs will have some big questions to answer with their roster this offseason, which will obviously have a huge impact on how they pursue replacements for the departing staff members.
Who could the Bucs target to replace Leftwich?
Here are a few possible candidates:
Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien
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Tom Brady could retire or play elsewhere next season, but if he wants to return for another year in Tampa, O’Brien could make plenty of sense as Leftwich’s replacement.
Brady and O’Brien have history together from their time in New England, where O’Brien was Brady’s quarterbacks coach for three seasons and offensive coordinator for one. Continuity and familiarity are incredibly important to Brady, so if he wants to come back in 2023, hiring O’Brien might be part of the pitch from the Bucs.
Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Monken has called plays in Tampa Bay before, spending three years as their offensive coordinator under head coach Dirk Koetter from 2016-2018. He also held the same role for the Cleveland Browns in 2019, before returning to the college ranks to help the Bulldogs win back-to-back national titles.
With plenty of pro experience in this role, and a track record of adapting and innovating to new concepts at the college level, Monken might be the perfect fit for an offense that was far too stagnant and predictable this season.
Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady
(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Brady has some experience as an offensive coordinator in the NFC South, but he clashed with then-head coach Matt Rhule, and found himself out of a job before the end of his second season. Now working with Josh Allen in Buffalo, Brady might be looking for an opportunity to step back into the play-calling role.
One of the hottest names in the coaching carousel just a few years ago, Brady was the mastermind behind the LSU offense that Joe Burrow and company rode to an undefeated season and a national title in 2019. Tampa Bay has the offensive weapons for Brady to unleash at the pro level, and would have the opportunity to prove Rhule made a mistake by firing him when he faces Carolina twice a year.
