The Jacksonville Jaguars have their next head coach – and it is not Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. After multiple reports had the Jaguars slated to hire Leftwich over a week ago, Jacksonville’s absurd coaching search went another direction. The organization is hiring former Eagles coach Doug Pederson as their new head coach, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This move almost certainly means that Leftwich will return as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator in 2022. Technically, Leftwich is still a candidate for the head coaching job in New Orleans. But that opportunity is widely expected to be granted to Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. That would leave two job openings on the table: Miami and Houston. Leftwich is not currently a candidate for either team.

That’s great news for the Bucs. Leftwich has led a top-tier offense all three years he’s served as Tampa Bay’s play caller. He’s widely considered a rising stud in the coaching sphere, and his return to Tampa means more continuity for Kyle Trask and Blaine Gabbert. It also ensures the Bucs coaching staff will stay in place. Leftwich had been rumored to want wide receivers coach Kevin Garver and outside linebackers coach Larry Foote as his coordinators.

Earlier on Thursday, Tampa Bay Times beat reporter Rick Stroud reported that Leftwich was removing himself from consideration for the Jaguars’ job. Leftwich was thought to be the favorite throughout the Jaguars’ tumultuous hiring process. But Leftwich wanted Cardinals’ executive Adrian Wilson to serve as general manager. The coordinator’s hesitancy to work with current Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke was shared by other candidates as well. Eventually, Pederson was comfortable with the arrangement, while Leftwich was not.