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Denver Broncos assistant coach Jim Leonhard.
The success of the Denver Broncos has led to some of their coaching staff becoming very popular among teams with openings on their own staffs.
One of those Denver assistants is now headed to a Super Bowl contender in a high profile role.
“Sources: The Bills are hiring Broncos defensive passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard as their new defensive coordinator. They have agreed to terms. A big hire for new coach Joe Brady,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X on Saturday. “The former player, Leonhard was coveted … A cool reunion story: Jim Leonhard started his career as a player with the Bills. Now, after interviews with the Chargers and Ravens, he’s back in Buffalo as their defensive coordinator.”
Leonhard started his NFL career as a safety for the Bills from 2005 to 2007. He’s been a coach with the Broncos the last 2 seasons.
The Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott after an overtime loss to the Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round and promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to take over.
“ESPN sources: the Buffalo Bills are expected to hire Broncos defensive passing game coordinator and assistant HC Jim Leonhard as their defensive coordinator,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote. “Leonhard visited the Chargers and Ravens, but now will be in charge of the Bills’ defense.”
Ravens Seemed Like Frontrunner to Hire Leonhard
Another one of Leonhard’s old teams, the Baltimore Ravens, seemed like the frontrunner to hire Leonhard as defensive coordinator under another first-year head coach in Jesse Minter.
Leonhard may have opted for the Bills in order to have total control over the defense. With the Ravens, Minter would have been much more hands-on as he comes to the Ravens after spending time as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Ravens requested to interview Broncos defensive passing game coordinator and assistant HC Jim Leonhard for their defensive coordinator job, per source,” Schefter wrote on January 29. “Leonhard — who played in Baltimore in 2008 — already has interviewed for the Chargers DC and is expected to interview for Buffalo’s DC.”
Leonhard did quite a few defensive coordinator interviews following the end of the regular season. He interviewed with the Dallas Cowboys before the AFC title game and the Chargers entered the mix before they hiredWestern Michigan defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary for the role.
“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.”
Broncos Season Ended in Disappointment
The Broncos’ season came to an end with a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, and even though it was their first title game appearance in a decade it didn’t result in a resounding vote of confidence for the coaching staff.
It was quite the opposite, actually. Head coach Sean Payton not only fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, he also fired wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and defensive backs coach Addison Lynch.
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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