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Denver Broncos assistant coach Jim Leonhard.
The Buffalo Bills are rapidly rounding out their staff under new head coach Joe Brady, adding a highly sought-after coach — and former Bills player — to serve as defensive coordinator.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that the Bills hired Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator. Leonhard had become a hot commodity in the coaching world and was expected to get a coordinator post somewhere this offseason, and Schefter reported that Buffalo won out.
“ESPN sources: the Buffalo Bills are expected to hire Broncos defensive passing game coordinator and assistant HC Jim Leonhard as their defensive coordinator,” Schefter wrote in a post on X. “Leonhard visited the Chargers and Ravens, but now will be in charge of the Bills’ defense.”
Bills Land Coveted Coach
Leonhard played a major role in putting together one of the league’s best defenses in Denver, pushing the team to the No. 1 overall seed and a trip to the AFC title game before the loss of quarterback Bo Nix caught up with the offense in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots.
The Bills were not only able to lure Leonhard away from the rival Broncos, but also beat out a pair of other AFC contenders for his services.
As USA Today’s Glenn Urby noted, the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers also interviewed Leonhard for defensive coordinator openings.
“Leonhard is a highly regarded candidate, and the Bills and Chargers have had the former defensive back on their radar. After the Chargers, Chris O’Leary, and Leonhard have decided to accept the defensive coordinator job in Buffalo,” Urby wrote.
The Bills had been connected to some other top candidates, including one who previously served as defensive coordinator in Buffalo — Jim Schwartz.
Brady has been filling key roles on his staff this week, landing Pete Carmichael Jr. as offensive coordinator. The former New Orleans Saints coordinator worked closely with Sean Payton, who earned praise from Brady at his introductory press conference.
“Having an opportunity to sit in a room with a Hall of Fame coach, the way that he thinks, the way that he comes up with plays, the way that he designs, the way that he can scheme matchups and not just focus on the other team’s weaknesses,” Brady said.
Jim Leonhard’s History in Buffalo
Leonhard has plenty of history in Buffalo, making the roster as an undrafted rookie in 2005 and appearing in 10 games his rookie season. Leonhard went on to play three seasons in Buffalo, serving important roles on both defense and special teams.
He later spent time on the Ravens, New York Jets, and Denver Broncos, and New Orleans Saints before returning to Buffalo for the 2013 season. He had a stellar season, making 41 total tackles with four interceptions and five passes defensed in 16 games, including six starts.
Leonhard’s coaching career started at the University of Wisconson, where he spent six years before moving to Illinois and later to the NFL. He served as defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the Broncos in 2024, then was promoted to assistant head coach in 2025.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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