"The 43-year-old Wisconsin native and former NFL safety is Denver's assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator, and he's risen through the ranks quickly to earn those titles. Hired in 2024 by the Broncos as the defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, he's already seen a promotion in Mile High, and was a college assistant as recently as 2023 with the Illinois Fighting Illini."
"Everything that could go wrong with the Cowboys' pursuit of Jim Leonhard has gone wrong, and it started with the Baltimore Ravens canning John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, and continued with the Miami Dolphins hiring Packers DC Jeff Hafley. The moment Harbaugh was fired, the New York Giants became the favorites to hire him, and hire him they did. Soon after that news broke, reports flooded in that Big Blue and Leonhard would likely become a match."
"Lots of buzz going around that the Giants are looking to hire #Broncos defensive pass-game coordinator Jim Leonhard as their new DC. https://t.co/sg3I3iCEcm - Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) January 15, 2026 Harbaugh, Leonhard's former coach during his playing days, is the consensus favorite to land his past player. If he doesn't, the Packers may be waiting, and if they pass, the Jets, his former longtime team as a player (who has interviewed him already), could pounce, and if they don't, Denver may just promote him."
Jim Leonhard is a 43-year-old former NFL safety from Wisconsin who serves as Denver's assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator. The Broncos hired him in 2024 as defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator after he coached at Illinois in 2023. His youth, intelligence, and rapid rise in Denver made him a top candidate and fan favorite for the Cowboys. Multiple events reduced Dallas's chances: the Ravens fired John Harbaugh, the Giants hired Harbaugh and targeted Leonhard, and Miami hired Jeff Hafley, affecting Green Bay's staff plans. The Packers, Jets, Giants, or Denver itself all remain viable landing spots for Leonhard.
Read at Inside The Star
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