Byron Leftwich is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He was born on January 14, 1980, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in the city's southeast neighborhood. Leftwich attended Marshall University, where he played college football for the Thundering Herd.
Leftwich was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Jaguars, starting 44 games and throwing for 9,042 yards, 51 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions. In 2004, he led the Jaguars to the playoffs, where they lost to the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round.
After his time with the Jaguars, Leftwich played for several other NFL teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He served as a backup quarterback for most of his career, but he did start several games for the Steelers and Buccaneers.
Leftwich's NFL career was marked by injuries, including a broken ankle that he suffered in 2005 while playing for the Jaguars. He also suffered a knee injury in 2008 while playing for the Steelers. Despite these setbacks, Leftwich remained a respected player in the league, known for his toughness and leadership.
After retiring from the NFL in 2012, Leftwich began his coaching career. He served as an intern with the Arizona Cardinals in 2016 and was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2017. In 2019, he joined the coaching staff of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their quarterbacks coach. In 2020, he was promoted to offensive coordinator, becoming one of the youngest coordinators in the NFL.
Throughout his career, Leftwich was known for his strong arm, accuracy, and ability to read defenses. He was also known for his toughness and leadership, earning the respect of his teammates and coaches. While he never achieved the same level of success as some of his contemporaries, Leftwich remains a respected figure in the NFL and a role model for young players.
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