For several months, Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders has tried to get former NFL quarterback Byron Leftwich to join the Buffaloes’ staff.
That move is now apparently in the works.
Sanders introduced Leftwich at a team meeting Tuesday, per a video posted on YouTube by Thee Pregame Network. Although the hire is not official, a BuffZone source confirmed that Leftwich will be joining the staff in some capacity. It’s unknown what his title will be with the Buffs, but it’s likely he will help mentor the quarterbacks.
Jordan Schultz of Fox reported in March that Leftwich, 45, would be joining the CU staff, but that did not materialize in the spring. Then, at Big 12 media days in Frisco, Texas, earlier this month, Sanders mentioned Leftwich and said, “I’m praying that he does the right thing (and comes to CU).”
Leftwich played for 10 seasons in the NFL before embarking on a coaching career. He most recently was the offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019-22, working for three years with future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. Leftwich helped the Bucs to a victory in Super Bowl LV.
Although he hasn’t coached since 2022, Leftwich interviewed in January for the head coaching position with the New England Patriots. He also interviewed for the offensive coordinator job with the Seattle Seahawks.
Leftwich has been around the CU program a bit during Sanders’ previous two seasons. He has visited Boulder to see the Buffs play and was at some practices this past spring.
As a player, Leftwich was a star at Marshall from 1998-2002, throwing for 11,903 yards and earning MAC offensive player of the year honors twice.
The seventh overall selection in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Leftwich played four seasons for them before also playing with the Atlanta Falcons (2007), Pittsburgh Steelers (2008, 2010-12) and Buccaneers (2009). He was a backup for Pittsburgh when it won Super Bowl XLIII.
In 2016, Leftwich began his coaching career as an intern with the Arizona Cardinals. He spent three seasons in Arizona before becoming the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay in 2019.
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