As per usual at this time of year, the chatter surrounding the New York Jets revolves not around their pursuit of a championship, but whether their head coach will be fired.

Add former Jets running back Bilal Powell to those in the New York media who have chimed in on the future of the team’s coaching staff.

However, Powell’s suggestions have nothing to do with head coach Aaron Glenn. Instead, Powell is focused on the team’s defensive coordinator vacancy, which opened in December with the firing of Steve Wilks.

Powell’s DC plan for Jets

To fill Wilks’ shoes, Powell believes New York should hire his former Jets teammate, Jim Leonhard, who is currently serving as the assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator for the Denver Broncos.

Hear me out. The Jets should hire Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator. Former Jet and NFL vet who played under Rex. Built multiple top five defenses at Wisconsin as a play caller. Proven teacher, proven leader, proven at every level. #JetUp

— Bilal Powell (@bilalpowell29) December 31, 2025

As a coach, Leonhard made a name for himself with the Wisconsin Badgers, where he arrived as a defensive backs coach in 2016. From 2017 to 2022, Leonhard served as the Badgers’ defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In six seasons under Leonhard’s leadership, Wisconsin achieved four top-10 finishes in fewest points per game allowed among FBS schools.

After spending the 2023 season as a senior football analyst for Illinois, Leonhard jumped to the NFL in 2024 as the Broncos’ defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, helping Denver ascend to one of the best defenses in the league. This year, Denver swapped out his defensive backs duties for the assistant head coach title.

As a player, Leonhard was a critical piece of the Jets’ defense during Rex Ryan’s heyday. Originally an undrafted free agent signing of the Bills, Leonhard signed with the Jets as a free agent in 2009, his fifth NFL season and Ryan’s first as a head coach. He followed Ryan over from Baltimore after spending one year as a starter under the former Ravens DC. From 2009 to 2011, Leonhard played in 40 games for the Jets, starting each of them at strong safety.

Leonhard was a crucial part of the Jets’ run to the 2009 AFC championship game. In three playoff games, he racked up 12 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two passes defended, and an interception.

Powell overlapped with Leonhard in 2011, when New York selected him in the fourth round. This was Leonhard’s final season in green. The veteran safety went on to play three more NFL seasons with the Broncos, Bills, and Browns, respectively, retiring after the 2014 season.

Meanwhile, Powell became a fan favorite in New York, spending all nine of his NFL seasons with the Jets. He is currently ranked 12th on the franchise’s all-time list in scrimmage yards with 5,275, including seventh among running backs.

Now 37 years old, Powell is open to spreading his wealth of experience to the next wave of Jets running backs.

Responding to a fan on X/Twitter who suggested that Powell should be the Jets’ running backs coach, the Louisville product responded, “Would be awesome!”

The Jets’ current running backs coach is Nic McKissic-Luke. The 42-year-old is in his first year as an NFL coach, having spent the previous 17 seasons coaching running backs and special teams at the college level for five different schools.

While the Jets do not appear poised to make a change at running backs coach, perhaps they could find an assistant role for Powell on their staff, so long as the 37-year-old is truly up for it. At the very least, he could make his presence felt with visits to training camp.

What is certain, though, is that the Jets will be hiring a new defensive coordinator. Powell is not the only one vouching for Leonhard; he is one of the hottest names on the defensive coaching market.

Time will tell if Leonhard would like to leave a thriving Broncos team to take a promotion with his old squad, despite their perpetual struggles as a franchise since he last represented them in 2011.