Jaguars overthinking making Byron Leftwich their head coach

The Jacksonville Jaguars continue their search for a head coach. While there’s not a clearcut favorite to fill the vacancy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich seemed to be trending towards getting the job at one point, so why weren’t the Jags able to seal the deal? Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times has a simple explanation.

Stroud said on The Rich Eisen Show that the Jaguars are “dysfunctional at best” and sees that as a reason why they haven’t hired Leftwich. Stroud believes the decision to hire Leftwich should have an easy one based on his history with the team, his background as an NFL quarterback, and his experience as an offensive coordinator.

"You know, it’s too easy, right? You got a guy who has a history with the Jaguars and was an NFL [quarterback]. How many NFL quarterbacks that really played at that level draft, high draft picks, calling plays, sat around with Tom Brady for a couple years, one of Super Bowls. 42 years old, and you’ve got Trevor Lawrence sitting there. You don’t want this guy to work with him. Really? You don’t think he’s gonna be a good head coach? I don’t know. I don’t know who would be better."

Stroud doesn’t know if general manager Trent Baalke has held up the Jaguars’ head coaching search but went on to say that it’s a shame that there are only three African American offensive coordinators and wondered why there’s no diversity in the league and coaching. He describes the situation as frustrating. On the other hand, he believes the Bucs will benefit if Leftwich and defensive coordinator don’t get head coaching jobs and return for the 2022 season.

The Jaguars aren’t handling their head coaching search well.

A week ago, it seemed like the Jaguars were going to make Leftwich their head coach and Arizona Cardinals vice president of pro scouting Adrian Wilson their general manager. While it’s unclear why it didn’t happen, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk speculates that the organization is giving Trent Baalke a chance to find a head coach better than Leftwich but the truth is that Leftwich is one of the most qualified coaches out there. If that’s really the reason why the Jags haven’t filed their vacancy, they deserve the dysfunctional label.

Leftwich may still land in Jacksonville but former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, former Las Vegas Raiders former head coach Rich Bisaccia, and maybe former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell are probably still in play. One development that could bring clarity to the situation is the arrival of former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rich Spielman.

Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reported that Spielman could get a high-level front office position in Jacksonville and Johnathan Jones of CBS Sports says that momentum is gaining for Spielman to “get a football position that reports directly” to owner Shad Khan and is above Baalke.

If Spielman joins the Jaguars, there’s a good chance their search for a head coach will speed up significantly, and who knows? Maybe Leftwich will get a job even if Baalke remains.