Steelers Should Bring Byron Leftwich Back to Pittsburgh

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Adam Lovelace. Follow him on Twitter @98_lovelace

Every year there are talking heads' in the local media (the guy they didn’t name the video game after), who claim that Mike Tomlin’s seat should be getting at least a little warm in Pittsburgh. After 14 years, and no losing seasons, that seat should barely be lukewarm. You could argue that Tomlin has underachieved given the talent the Steelers have had in the past decade. Yet, consistency is a trademark of the Steelers, especially at Head Coach.

Cycling through head coaches is the mark of a poorly run franchise. Calling for the firing of an incredible head coach is the mark of a fan base dying for another Super Bowl, or just a desire for twitter attention. But I digress. While I would never be in the group that calls for the firing of Mike Tomlin, the next head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers should be something to, at the very least, daydream about. 

If you look back at the NFL playoffs this past year, there was one notable quality to each team. They had an elite quarterback and an offensive minded head coach, the only exception being Sean McDermott in Buffalo, who hired an elite offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll. With the numerous rule changes favoring the offensive side of the ball, the NFL is trending in a singular direction. Offense, offense, offense.

It is becoming abundantly clear that regardless of your defensive ability, if you can’t score in today’s NFL – you simply can’t win. Steelers fans should know this first-hand. The Defensive Player of the Year (TJ Watt) scored a touchdown in the Steelers’ playoff game, and they still got blown out because the offense couldn’t muster a first half touchdown.

The Steelers are in danger of letting the NFL pass them by if they do not focus on the offensive side of the ball. The Steelers have an inarguable identity as a defensive oriented franchise, but the days of riding a dominant defense to the Super Bowl is over. If you aren’t special at quarterback, with a created offensive mind leading the way, you're simply just another playoff team in purgatory.

The Steelers must figure out the offensive side of the ball, and fast. I am willing to give Matt Canada another year, but what I saw from him last year was concerning to say the least. If next year includes more 4th and 3 swing passes to the running back, he should have to buy his own plane ticket home. I think a drastic change to the thinking may be required.

Again, I am not suggesting that Tomlin be fired, but they need to bring in an offensive guru. 

Byron Leftwich, current offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, would be a perfect fit.

Leftwich served as the backup quarterback for the Steelers in 2008, and again from 2010 to 2012. However, he would do more for the Steelers as a coach than he did as a quarterback. Leftwich has been the coordinator of a high-powered offense in Tampa Bay for the last 3 years in Tampa, including their Super Bowl victory two years ago. Even when Jameis Winston was at the helm, he still led the league in passing yards and touchdowns. What is most important is that Leftwich has the seal of approval from Tom Brady. 

Quarterbacking for the Steelers isn’t his only connection to this franchise either.

For the past three years, Leftwich has been under the tutelage of Bruce Arians, who was the offensive coordinator for the Steelers the last time they won the Super Bowl. Leftwich filling that role for Pittsburgh almost makes too much sense. The only big problem is this: Leftwich is too decorated to be just a coordinator.