Jan. 24, 2026, 2:11 p.m. CT

As Matt LaFleur looks to hire his next defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard is reportedly on the shortlist of potential candidates to succeed Jeff Hafley in Green Bay.

There is “mutual interest” between Leonhard and the Packers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Leonhard is currently the assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator for the Denver Broncos, who are getting ready to play in the AFC Championship Game this Sunday.

Per league rules, no other NFL teams are permitted to have contact with Leonhard until after this weekend’s games, meaning no interview has been set up between Leonhard and the Packers as of yet.

However, Rapoport said: “the hope is both sides can get together for a discussion” after Denver’s contest with New England.

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A native of Ladysmith, Wisconsin, Leonhard spent seven years as a coach with the Badgers in various roles from 2016 to 2022, including defensive backs coach, defensive coordinator and interim head coach.

He played safety for Wisconsin between 2001 and 2004, before a decade-long NFL career with the Bills, Ravens, Jets and Browns.

Leonhard was a contender for the defensive coordinator position in Green Bay back in 2021, and was reportedly offered the job, but turned it down in favor of staying in Madison.

Some theorized Leonhard was expecting to eventually be named as Wisconsin’s next head coach, succeeding Paul Chryst. The Badgers went with Luke Fickell instead, and Leonhard then announced he would leave his alma mater at the end of the 2022 season.

After being turned down, LaFleur pivoted and hired Joe Barry, who produced mixed results at best in three seasons with the Packers.

Leonhard spent a year as a senior football analyst with Illinois in 2023, before joining the Broncos as defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator the following season; his first NFL coaching job.

He would appear to be a strong candidate, having called plays successfully for multiple years with Wisconsin and more recently being part of one of the NFL’s best defenses in Denver. Expect there to be some competition for Leonhard’s services, with the Giants also linked. 

The former Badger becomes the fifth name to be linked with Green Bay, along with Bears pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Al Harris, Daronte Jones, who has the same role in Minnesota, former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, and Christian Parker.

Since interviewing with the Packers, Parker has accepted the DC role with the Cowboys, taking him off the board.

The trend of Green Bay interviewing coaches with backgrounds coaching defensive backs continues, as all five known candidates to date have a history of working with DBs.

They are looking to replace Jeff Hafley, who was named the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins earlier this week.

While Leonhard may be in a strong position to land with the Packers, it is worth remembering there was very little buzz (if any) around Hafley before Green Bay hired him two years ago.

But it sounds like the team will be waiting to make any decision on their new defensive coordinator until they can speak to Leonhard next week.