"The hiring will mark a change in direction on the defensive side of the ball after Sean McDermott was fired following nine seasons leading the Bills and the team's defense. Leonhard, 43, is currently the defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach with the Denver Broncos. This year, the Broncos defense put up 68 sacks, four short of tying the single season record (72, 1984 Chicago Bears), and allowed the second fewest yards per game (278.2)."
"Leonhard joined the Broncos in 2024 as the team's defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach. Prior to that, he was a senior football analyst at Illinois and spent 2016-22 coaching at Wisconsin, including all but one year as the defensive coordinator and also spent some of the 2022 season as interim head coach. Undrafted out of Wisconsin, Leonhard played with the Bills from 2005-07 and in 2013."
Jim Leonhard is expected to be hired as the Buffalo Bills' defensive coordinator, marking a change after Sean McDermott's firing following nine seasons leading the team and its defense. Leonhard, 43, serves as defensive pass game coordinator and assistant head coach with the Denver Broncos, whose defense produced 68 sacks and allowed 278.2 yards per game this season. He joined Denver in 2024 after roles as a senior football analyst at Illinois and multiple seasons coaching at Wisconsin, including nearly all years as defensive coordinator and a stint as interim head coach. Leonhard played ten NFL seasons as a safety and special teams player, including with the Bills. He also met with the Chargers and Ravens for defensive positions. The Bills are also set to hire Pete Carmichael as offensive coordinator and Joe Brady is assembling his staff without prior overlap with Leonhard.
Read at ESPN.com
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