Count the New Orleans Saints among teams interested in hiring Byron Leftwich to be their next head coach. While the Jacksonville Jaguars were long believed to be frontrunners, some complications with their general manager may prevent that from happening.
So, the Saints are doing what any NFC South rival would do by interviewing the top offensive coordinator in the division, picking the brain of one of their opponents they face twice per year. It’s a great strategy, even if Leftwich isn’t their top candidate.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Saints have officially requested permission to interview Leftwich for their open head coaching gig. He also adds the team is also interested in Aaron Glenn and Dennis Allen, the defensive coordinators for the Detroit Lions and the New Orleans Saints.
Promoting Allen would be sticking with the coach they know, as he’s coordinated the defense since 2015 in the Bayou. Each of the past two seasons, the Saints have had a top-seven unit in both points and yards allowed.
Hiring Byron Leftwich would be a double-win for New Orleans Saints
Given the chance to rob talent from the winners of the NFC South by hiring Leftwich away from the Buccaneers could both help the New Orleans Saints by landing one of the rising stars in the coaching world, but it could also set their rivals back.
Without Leftwich, the team would have to find a new coordinator who works well with Tom Brady, or whoever is under center in 2022. Not that Brady is tough to work with, but the GOAT QB may have his own reservations about who he works with, especially for what could be his final season. Chances are he doesn’t want to start from scratch while he strives to rebuild chemistry with what could be a new set of receivers as Chris Godwin hits free agency and with Antonio Brown’s departure.
With other teams dragging their feet on the idea of hiring Leftwich, maybe the Saints should act quickly and make the former QB an offer he can’t refuse. Will Byron Leftwich be the coach who replaces Sean Payton? Time will tell.
