When the football gods drew up the perfect quarterback, they probably didn't have Byron Leftwich in mind. For a long time, he wasn't a favorite of scouts, either. Despite a stellar high school career, Byron attracted scant interest from major college programs. Then, despite being drafted in the top 10 by Jacksonville, critics said that a slow-footed quarterback with a lumpy 240-pound body couldn't win—much less play—in the NFL. For Byron, however, starting his NFL career under this kind of scrutiny is ideal. He's a leader's leader, the Jags know it, and they're ready to follow him all the way to the Super Bowl. This is his story…

GROWING UP

Byron Antron Leftwich was born on January 14, 1980 in Washington, D.C. (Click here for today's sports birthdays.) His father left home when he was a toddler, so the job of raising Byron and his borther, Kevin, fell to their mother, Brenda. She took two jobs, both in nursing homes, to support her boys. Watching his mom work so hard had an impect on Byron. As a youngster, he vowed to make it up to her one day.

The family lived in low-income housing, where the sounds of gunshots often woke the boys from their sleep. When Brenda was working, babysitters and neighbors kept an eye on the kids. Despite constant danger and temptation, the boys made it through their childhood happy, healthy and bright. One of Brenda's proudest moments was the night she made it to a PTA meeting and was told by Byron’s teacher that he was one of the greatest kids she’d ever taught.

Education was one way out of the ghetto, but as Byron grew, sports became an increasingly viable option. A football, basketball and baseball star in the youth leagues around the city, he loved watching pro games up-close, even if he didn't have the money to afford a ticket. Byron sometimes snuck into RFK Stadium for Washington Redskins games. He had a friend who worked security at one of the gates, and turned his head when Byron would slip through a narrow slit in the fence. He still laughs at this memory today, especially when he thinks of all the NFL scouts who said he wasn't slim enough to be an NFL quarterback.

Byron got an eyeful at every Skins game he saw. Under Joe Gibbs, Washington was one of the league's powerhouses. His offense was a dream for any quarterback willing to put in the time to master it. Mark Rypien was the guy in charge during Byron's youth. An average athlete with a good arm (but hardly a great one), Rypien went to two Pro Bowls and led the Redskins to a victory in Super Bowl XXVI. No doubt Byron had visions of doing the same some day.

Like Rypien, Byron was big, but not particularly fast or mobile. His instincts and leadership skills were uncanny, however, and he became a three-sport varsity star at Howard D. Woodson High School in football, basketball and baseball. Byron had a cannon for an arm, and by his sophomore year was the team’s starting QB. That season, he told Washington Post sportswriter Michael Wilbon that he would play Division I football. Two years later, in the fall of 1997, he looked like a genius, having emerged as one of the East Coast’s top prep quarterbacks. Yet when the recruiting process swung into full gear, there were no offers from major programs.

Unbeknwonst to Byron, he suffered from a geographic bias. D.C grid stars sinply did not have the cache of their peers in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Pitt and Maryland showed some interest in Byron, but put nothing on the table. The school that pursued him with the most gusto was West Virginia's Marshall of the Mid-American Conference, and the Thundering Herd only targeted Byron after scouting one of his teammates. Defensive Coordinator Kevin Kelly was studing film of a Woodson running back when he noticed Byron firing fastballs all over the field. On one play, just as he was about to be clobbered, he threw for a 30-yard completion.

Bob Pruett, Marshall's head coach, also watched tape of Byron and learned that most schools were shying away from him, partly because his grades had slipped. Pruett contacted Byron and let him know there was a scholarship waiting for him if his academics improved. With the Thundering Herd looking to beef up an already pass-happy offense, Byron jumped at the opportunity.

Byron began his college career as a backup to Chad Pennington. Despite fighting for the same position, the two formed a strong friendship (that continues today). They first met on the 50-yard-line, where Pennington challenged Byron to throw a pass out of the end zone. The freshman reared back and fired a bullet through the goal posts and into the stands, earning a dinner at McDonald’s from the Marshall starter.

ON THE RISE

After caddying for Pennington in 1998 and 1999, Byron assumed the starting role in 2000. He had a remarkable year, passing for 3,358 yards and 21 touchdowns. Where Pennington had relied on touch and timing—and the massive talents of Randy Moss—Byron was more active in the pocket and had the confidence to make any throw on the field.

His development continued durng his junior campaign in the fall of 2001. An
All-MAC first-team selection, Byron was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year and received the Vern Smith Leadership Award. Byron established MAC marks for passing yards (4,132), completions (315), attempts (470) and total offense (4,224). The Thundering Herd, meanwhile, went 10-2 and reached the GMAC Bowl, where Byron enjoyed the defining moment of his record-setting campaign. With Marshall trailling East Carolina 38-8 at the half, he rallied his team to a miraculous 64-61 win in double-overtime. Byron finished the day with 576 yards and four scoring tosses.

Byron's performance in the GMAC Bowl enabled Marshall to get a headstart on its Heisman hype. By the fall of his senior year, the campaign was proceeding full force. Among other gimmicks, the school distributed bobblehead dolls of Byron to every sportswriter who had a vote.

Unfortunately, in a November game against Akron, Byron fractured his left tibia. He had actually hurt the same leg nine months earlier after a similar injury in February. Byron was forced from the contest, but returned after missing just one snap. He led Marshall to a touochdown, and then was whisked to the hospital for x-rays. Incredibly, Byron returned again, this time in the third quarter. With offensive lineman carrying him down the field after long gainers, he nearly engineered a dramatic comeback victory.

Byron sat out the following game, but refused to miss any more action. he guided the Herd to four straight victories, throwing for more than 400 yards in two of them. To no one's surprise, Byron became the first repeat winner of the conference's Offensive Player of the Year in 10 seasons. In all, he completed 331 of 491 passes for 4,268 yards and 30 touchdowns against only 10 interceptions.

MAKING HIS MARK

Byron's status as a high-round pick was already solidifed when he attended the NFL combines in 2003. But when he blew away the scouts with his arm, size, and toughness, he suddenly found himself rated ahead of USC quarterback Carson Palmer. The Cincinnati Bengals were already commited to Palmer with the first selection overall, however, so Byron wasn't sure where he would go.

The only questions remaining about his future as a pro revolved around his lack of mobility and the condition of his leg. Few teams were scared away. In fact, as the draft approached, a number of clubs tried to trade up for a shot at Byron. Jacksonville hoped he'd be around when they picked at no. 7. When he was, the Jags grabbed him.

It didn't take long for Byron to secure the job as the starter in Jacksonville. Incumbent Mark Brunell suffered a left elbow injury in Week 3 of the '03 season, and the Jags were Byron's team from that point on. He started the following week at Houston and settled life in the NFL from there. It wasn't always easy. Against the Texans, Byron put together three good quarters, but lost a fumble on the final drive, leading to a game-winning touchdown by Houston.

The next Sunday Byron made amends in his first start at home. In front of a packed house at Alltel Stadium, he led the Jaguars to a 27-21 win over the San Diego Chargers, posting his first 300-yard passing game as a pro. The highlight of his rookie campaign came in November, when he engineered a victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs, the defending Super Bowl champs. Byron capped off the upset with a 48-yard touchdown strike to Jimmy Smith late in the fourth quarter.

Byron finished the season with 2,819 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. While his 16 interceptions raised some eyebrows, he often showed the poise of a veteran on the field. Indeed, his 73.0 passing rating was the fourth-best figure recorded by a first-rounder over the past 20 years.

Jacksonville avoided any hint of a quarterback controversy in 2004 by letting Brunell walk as a free agent. He signed with Washington, and Byron was the man again. He started 14 games and finished the season with 2,941 passing yards, as the Jags improved to 9-7. Byron enjoyed his best day of the year agasint the Chargers, passing for a career-high 357 yards while also breaking the team record for consecutive completions with 15. A knee injury kept him out of two games late in the season, but he proved his toughness by playing most of Jacksonville's home finale after suffering a mild concussion.

In 2005, Byron established himself as the leader of the Jaguars, both in the locker room and on the field. Before the season, he was named the team's offensive captain after a vote by teammates. When the campaign began, Byron demonstrated the ability to do whatever the Jags needed from him. He was making smart decisions in the pocket, limiting turnovers, and getting his team into the end zone. Under head coach Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville was one of the league's up-and-coming clubs.

The Jaguars were 7-3 and sitting pretty in the AFC South, until Byron fractured his left ankle in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. At the time, he was having his best season to date, passing for 15 TDs and only five INTs. Jacksonville gutted four more victories, earning a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. Byron returned for the team's matchup against the Patriots, but couldn't figure out New England's swarming defense. The Jags fell 28-3.

Playoff disappointment aside, Byron is ready to get back at it in 2006. He's proven he can play with pain and bring his team from behind. Byron doesn't always look good getting the job done—but to him, winning has a beauty all its own.

BYRON THE PLAYER

No one can question Byron’s toughness. He can take a hit from anyone in the league and drag himself—if he has to—back to the huddle to call the next play.

Leftwich is a classic dropback passer with a cannon for an arm. He’s not going to outrun many defenders, but he knows how to buy time in the pocket. Because he's not afraid of contact, Byron will hold the ball as long as necessary for his receivers to break open.

Byron is a great leader. Even when the fans call for his head, his teammates believe in him. They respond to his confidence, his never-say-die attitude, and his knack for making the big play. Byron has won at every level he's played. If surrounded by the right cast, a trip to the Super Bowl is in his future.

© Copyright 2006 Black Book Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.