Feb. 7, 2026, 6:00 a.m. MT
The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs last month with the help of a controversial Ja’Quan McMillian interception.
In overtime, Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw a deep pass intended for Brandin Cooks, who initially grabbed the ball before hitting the ground and having it ripped away by McMillian. Denver went on to win the game after that turnover.
After losing quarterback Bo Nix to a season-ending ankle injury, the Broncos were knocked out of the playoffs one week later with a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots. Following that loss, assistant head coach/defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard left Denver’s staff to become Buffalo’s new defensive coordinator.
Leonhard held an introductory press conference on Thursday, and he had a perfect response when asked if Cooks’ grab was a catch in the playoff loss to the Broncos.
“Was not,” Leonhard said. “We caught it — Denver caught it that time.”
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Leonhard then quipped that his stance will change once he’s underway in Buffalo.
“I’ll have a different opinion here very soon once this season — to me, it’s still the 2025 season, the Super Bowl hasn’t been played yet, so I have to have a little bit of loyalty there — but ask me in another week and I’ll give you a different answer.”
The Broncos are set to host the Bills during the 2026 season, and Buffalo will be looking for some revenge following that playoff loss. Leonhard will be on the opposite sideline for that matchup after spending the last two seasons in Denver.
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