Former Bills Safety Emerges as Leading Candidate for Defensive Coordinator Position
Denver Broncos assistant head coach Jim Leonhard has emerged as a leading candidate to become the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator under newly elevated head coach Joe Brady, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Leonhard, 43, currently serves as the Broncos’ defensive pass game coordinator and assistant head coach. The move would mark a significant coaching shift for the Bills, who are searching for a replacement after two seasons with Bobby Babich in the role.
Connection to Buffalo
The hiring would reunite Leonhard with the organization where his professional career began. The Lady Smith, Wisconsin, native made the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie out of the University of Wisconsin in 2005 and spent three seasons with the Bills before embarking on a 10-year NFL playing career with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and Cleveland Browns.
During his time in Baltimore and New York, Leonhard played for Rex Ryan from 2008 through 2011, when Ryan served as defensive coordinator of the Ravens and head coach of the Jets.
Coaching Pedigree
After retiring from professional play, Leonhard transitioned into coaching at his alma mater Wisconsin in 2013, starting as defensive backs coach before advancing to defensive coordinator and serving as interim head coach in 2022. He spent one season as a senior football analyst at Illinois before joining the Broncos coaching staff in 2024.
The Bills will need to follow the Rooney Rule before finalizing Leonhard’s hiring. In 2025, the Bills’ defense ranked 11th in scoring with 21.6 points allowed per game, while their total defense placed 17th at 341.5 yards per game.
