Report: Patriots interviewing Byron Leftwich for head coach

The Patriots are talking to someone with a strong connection to their most famous quarterback about the head coach vacancy.

Per Mike Jones of TheAthletic.com, former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is interviewing for the job on Tuesday.

Leftwich, 44, was the Bucs’ OC under coaches Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles from 2019-2022 — helping the club win Super Bowl LV to cap the 2020 season.

While the team ranked No. 3, No. 3 and No. 2 in scoring from 2019-2021 — with Jameis Winston as the starting quarterback in 2019 before Tom Brady arrived in 2020 — the team fell to No. 15 in yards and No. 25 in points in 2022. Bowles opted to fire Leftwich after that season.

Leftwich was reportedly close to taking the Jaguars job in early 2022 but the club hired Doug Pederson instead.

While Leftwich has not coached the past two seasons, he recently told Jones that he has hired a new representative and indicated that he will aggressively pursue NFL jobs.

“There is something missing. “I really feel as if something is not there and I have to get back to it,” Leftwich said via TheAthletic.com. “I really care about helping other players. I want to help them play better. I love teaching.”

“Just give me a chance. Bring me in and see. Reach out to me and see if I’m the right kind of leader you want,” Leftwich added. “Do your homework. Let’s see if I can lead the men. …Let’s see if I know the X’s and O’s. See if I know people. To see if I know what I need to do to succeed in the job.

The No. 7 overall pick of the 2003 draft, Leftwich appeared in 60 games with 50 starts during the 2012 season, playing for Jacksonville, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Tampa Bay.