It’s easy to throw around names in the college football offseason.
Sometimes it’s noise or just a rumor. A big headline that never really happens.
But not this time.
Because Byron Leftwich is finally officially in Boulder. And that means everything.
Coach Prime officially introduced the former Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator to the team before the Buffs opened fall camp this week. The move had been hinted at for months, but now it’s real—and now it’s time to ask what it actually means.
Spoiler: It means a lot.
The quarterbacks just leveled up. In a big way.
Shedeur Sanders is gone. His legacy in Boulder is already cemented, but his departure leaves the most important question of the 2025 season unanswered: Who’s our guy now?
Julian Lewis. Kaidon Salter. Ryan Staub.
Three very different players. One job. And now, one new coach in the room who knows exactly what they’re going through.
Leftwich was a first-round pick. He’s played some big games in Jacksonville. He’s backed up Roethlisberger. He’s won a ring coaching Tom Brady. He's seen it all.
And now he’s in a film room with a five-star freshman, a dual-threat transfer from Liberty, and a battle-tested returner from last year’s squad.
It’s not about replacing Shurmur. It’s about doubling down.
A lot of fans saw the name “Byron Leftwich” and assumed he will take over the offense.
Not so fast.
Pat Shurmur is still the offensive coordinator. And for good reason—but for now, this isn’t a replacement. Maybe a some point of the season, if the offense struggles, but this is an investment. This is Coach Prime surrounding his staff with as much real football wisdom as possible.
Coach Prime said it clearly in his first team meeting with Leftwich in the room:
“He’s going to do what he does… He’s going to be an integral part of our success. I already know that.”
That’s confidence. And when Prime says a coach is going to be a major part of our success, you better believe it.
So what’s next?
Camp is here and the quarterback race is going heat up. And finally, Byron Leftwich is officially in the building.
Whether it's JuJu, Salter, or Staub who takes the first snap on August 29 against Georgia Tech, one thing’s for sure: They won’t be alone out there. Not mentally or emotionally.
And that makes all the difference.
Coach Prime is building a serious program—one with staying power. One that players want to be a part of, and one that coaches want to be a part of.
With Byron Leftwich on board, we’re not just dreaming big anymore.
We’re expecting it.
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