One of the main topics of debate in the Pittsburgh Steelers off-season is what to do with the offensive coordinator. Matt Canada has spent two years in the position, but things haven't gone too well. The offense, and team as a whole, ended 2022 on a positive note. As a result, rumors have began circulating that Canada's job may be safe this off-season.
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On Monday, Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan suggested that head coach, Mike Tomlin may be waiting for a possible OC candidate before deciding Canada's fate. That would be Byron Leftwich, the current OC for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If the name sounds familiar, well, he played four seasons with the Steelers, which included two separate stints.
Steelers rumor: Mike Tomlin is waiting to see if Byron Leftwich gets fired before making a move on Matt Canada.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 16, 2023
How would swapping out Leftwich for Canada make you feel?
Leftwich was Ben Roethlisberger's backup during his time in Pittsburgh, appearing in eight games and starting one. Before that, he started 44 games in his first four NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Since then, he has climbed up the coaching ranks to be Bruce Arians' OC, one of his former coaches in Pittsburgh.
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It's been a disappointing year for the Buccaneers, who take on the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round on Monday night. They managed to sneak into the playoffs, thanks to a weak NFC South in 2022. Leftwich's offense struggled throughout the season though, which was accompanied by several key injuries. Tom Brady hasn't been the same at quarterback, but Leftwich has faced a ton of criticism from Buccaneers fans.
Due to the struggles, he could be fired once their season is over. It comes just a year after the former quarterback was a hot name in the head coaching market. He specifically faced interest from the Chicago Bears and his former team, the Jaguars. It's unclear how much merit there is to this report, especially after recent rumors suggest Canada will likely stay with the team for the 2023 campaign.
Would you take Leftwich over Canada as the team's OC in 2023? Do you think this report has any merit to it? If the team keeps Canada, how much optimism do you have that he can turn things around? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section below!
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