The Bucs will have more than just players to replace on the roster this offseason. According to Eric Dillard of The Bold Take Podcast, the Jaguars are hiring Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich as their next head coach. SB Nation’s Demetrius Harvey confirmed the report shortly after.

Leftwich has been the Bucs offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. Before that he served on Bruce Arians’ staff with the Arizona Cardinals. Arians promoted the former NFL signal caller to quarterbacks coach in 2017. Leftwich earned the interim offensive coordinator job following Mike McCoy’s firing in October of 2019.

Under Leftwich the Bucs have had tremendous offensive success. This season, the offense finished first in yards per game (405.8) and passing yards per game (306.6). They also ranked second in the NFL in points per game with 29.4.

Last year the Bucs finished seventh in yards per game, second in passing yards and third in points. And in 2019, the team finished third in yards per game, first in passing yards and third in points.

During the Bucs’ end-of-season press conference on Monday, January 24, head coach Bruce Arians was asked if  Leftwich’s departure meant it was likely he would go back to calling the plays on offense.

“It would be a really good chance, yes,” Arians said.

In terms of who will replace Leftwich as offensive coordinator, Arians said it’s a wait-and-see approach.

“I’ve gone through a number of different scenarios in the last few weeks just in case,” Arians said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Pewter Report has reported that wide receivers coach Kevin Garver would be promoted to the role of offensive coordinator to replace Leftwich. Arians’ recent comments suggest that Garver wouldn’t be calling plays, though.

Meanwhile, Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson reported on Tuesday that Leftwich wants to bring Garver with him to Jacksonville. If Garver departs, look for assistant wide receivers coach Thaddeus Lewis to be considered for the offensive coordinator position.