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The Denver Broncos defense almost set the NFL single-season sacks record in 2025.
The Denver Broncos are coming off theit most disappointing loss in recent memory — a mistake-filled, 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game — which was followed by a purge of the coaching staff that saw offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and defensive backs coach Addison Lynch fired just days after the loss.
That might not be the end of the coaches going out the door. Quarterbacks coach Davis Webb is still a candidate to become the Las Vegas Raiders head coach and another AFC West rival is going after another key member of Denver’s coaching staff.
“The Chargers are requesting to interview Broncos defensive passing game coordinator and assistant head coach Jim Leonhard for their vacant defensive coordinator position, source says,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X on Wednesday morning. “Leonhard also has interest from the Bills, among others.”
The Broncos have put together one of the NFL’s elite defenses the last 2 seasons with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Leonhard guiding the ship, including a 14-3 regular season record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs in 2025.
Leonhard Seemed Like Prime Candidate for Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys seemed like a prime destination for Leonhard to make the ascent to defensive coordinator until they hired 34-year-old Philadelphia Eagles defensive assistant Christian Parker to fill that role.
The Broncos’ success may have played a role in that, where the Cowboys weren’t sure if they would even have access to Leonhard for the next 2 weeks — they would not have if the Broncos had made the Super Bowl — and didn’t want to risk losing out on a similar candidate.
“Jim Leonhard, the Broncos’ defensive passing game/assistant head coach, remains on the team’s radar,” DMN’s Calvin Watkins wrote. “Leonhard has conducted a virtual interview with club officials but hasn’t come to Texas for an in-person chat. Leonhard’s team is in the AFC Championship Game and, based on league rules, if he does any in-person interviews, they must conclude by Saturday. NFL teams have Tuesdays off during a game week, and if Leonhard were to visit the Cowboys it likely would have been then. Yet, the team interviewed Gannon. So if Leonhard visits the Cowboys, it might happen late Friday or early Saturday so he could get back to Denver in time for Sunday’s game. Of course, if the Broncos get eliminated from the postseason, he could interview for the Cowboys’ job if it’s still available.”
Leonhard’s Path to Becoming NFL Coach
Leonhard carved out a career as one of the greatest safeties in Big Ten history at Wisconsin, where the 5-foot-8, 188-pound Wisconsin native was a 3-time All-Big Ten pick and 2-time All-American after starting his career as a walk on.
After going undrafted, Leonhard spent a decade playing in the NFL for 6 different teams, including the Bills, Broncos and one season with the New Orleans Saints playing for current Broncos head coach Sean Payton in 2013.
He spent 7 seasons as an assistant at Wisconsin before spending one season at Illinois then making the leap to the NFL when he joined Payton’s staff in Denver in 2024.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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