2 NFL Coaches Who Could Be Fired After 2023 Playoff Losses
A few more NFL assistant coaches could be on their way out after losses on Wild-Card Weekend 2023. The latest rumors suggest that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens might part ways with their offensive coordinators.
According to multiple reports, the Buccaneers are expected to fire offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. It also may not be surprising if Ravens move on from offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Buccaneers, 31-14. The Bucs went 8-9 in the regular season before losing the home playoff game.
Tampa Bay was one of the league's most disappointing teams during the 2022 season, largely because of the offense. The Bucs ranked 25th in scoring offense, averaging just 18.4 points per game. Including the playoffs, Tampa Bay scored fewer than 24 points in 16 of 18 games.
The Bucs averaged more than 30 points per game and had a top-three scoring offense in each of Tom Brady's first two seasons in Tampa Bay. Bruce Arians stepped down as the head coach in the spring and was replaced by defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Leftwich has been the Bucs' offensive coordinator since 2019.
ESPN's Jenna Laine reports that no final decision has been made regarding Leftwich's future with the team.
Baltimore, meanwhile, saw its season end Sunday in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-17. Baltimore has gone two straight seasons without a playoff win.
Ravens fans have called for Roman to be fired for weeks. Since Lamar Jackson went down with a knee injury, Baltimore's offense has been among the league's worst. The Ravens ended the season by scoring 17 points or fewer in seven straight games.
Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh showed support for Roman during the season when signs that read "Fire Greg Roman" were left found outside the team facility and shared by linebacker Tyus Bowser on social media.
Baltimore scored a league-high 33.2 points per game during Jackson's 2019 MVP campaign. In the 2020 season, the Ravens averaged 29.3 points per game and made a second straight trip to the divisional playoffs. Both seasons ended in disappointment because of the offense. Baltimore totaled 15 points in back-to-back postseason losses.
Roman became a Ravens offensive assistant in 2017 and was named the offensive coordinator ahead of the 2019 season.
The Los Angeles Chargers became the first team to make coaching changes after Wild-Card Weekend. L.A. fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterbacks coach Shane Day Tuesday, three days after blowing a 27-0 lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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