Deion Sanders adds Byron Leftwich to Colorado football coaching staff

Deion Sanders continues to add NFL experience to Colorado’s coaching staff.

Byron Leftwich is the latest addition to the program, and he won’t be the last this offseason.

The 10-year NFL veteran will work with the Buffs’ quarterbacks just four years after helping Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV. Leftwich was hired as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator in 2019 and took over play calling duties ahead of the Super Bowl run in 2020.

Despite receiving multiple head coaching interviews (Bears, Jaguars, Saints) after the 2021 season, Leftwich was not hired by another organization and remained in Tampa Bay. Bruce Arians, the Bucs’ head coach at the time, was unhappy that Leftwich didn’t get a head coaching opportunity.

Across the 2020 and 2021 regular seasons, the Bucs averaged 30.4 points per game (the most in the NFL).

“He does it all,” Arians said of Byron Leftwich in 2021. “He calls the plays. I’m really upset he didn’t get a head-coaching interview. Byron didn’t even get a call, and I think people give Tom Brady and Bruce Arians way too much credit and not enough credit for Byron Leftwich.”

Leftwich was fired from Tampa Bay after the 2022 season along with eight other coaches when Todd Bowles took over as head coach.

The former No. 7 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft became a hot head-coaching candidate in 2022 largely because of his ability to relate to players. Leftwich played for four NFL teams (Jaguars, Falcons, Steelers, Bucs) from 2003-2012 and threw for over 10,000 career passing yards.

With Shedeur Sanders now off to the NFL, Byron Leftwich will get the opportunity to develop the next Colorado QB alongside offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and five-star freshman Julian Lewis are currently battling it out for the starting nod. They’ll both be able to learn from a man who’s been exactly where they aspire to be.

Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.