One year after being a coaching intern for the Arizona Cardinals, quarterbacks coach Byron Leftwich is taking the next step in his career.
Head coach Bruce Arians announced on Wednesday that Leftwich, with all of one year coaching experience, will call plays in the team’s preseason game against the Oakland Raiders this week.
Arians: QB coach Byron Leftwich will call plays against Raiders. Another step in prepping Leftwich for coaching future.
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) August 9, 2017
It’s quite astonishing that Arians is already giving Leftwich this type of role at such an early point in his coaching career. It also tells us a whole lot about how the head coach feels about his pupil.
Leftwich, 37, retired from the NFL following the 2012 season after spending 10 years with four different teams. He finished his career having compiled 58 total passing touchdowns. Leftwich was the No. 7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2003 and worked with Arians in Pittsburgh for two seasons during his career.