Mile High Report
According to reports, Broncos defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard has elected to remain with the Broncos despite three teams reaching out to him about defensive coordinator jobs.
According to NFL Network’s lead league insider Ian Rapoport, Denver Broncos defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard has elected to remain with the team, despite interest from other teams. He states that three teams reached out to Leonhard about their defensive coordinator position, but he has decided to remain with the Broncos.
Leonhard, a former player who played from 2005 through 2014 which included a stint with the Broncos in 2012 has become an up-and-coming defensive coach. He started his coaching career at Wisconsin as a defensive backs coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator from 2017 through 2022. He then became their interim head coach for part of the 2022 season before heading to Illinois as a Senior football analyst. He would go on to replace Christian Parker as the Broncos defensive backs coach last season and will stay with the team through the 2025 season.
The Broncos secondary was a strength for the Broncos this season and Leonhard is a big reason for that. All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II is a finalist and favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, cornerback Riley Moss emerged as a solid start, rookie Kris Abrams-Draine showed promise, and safety Brandon Jones had a career year. Now, entering his second year with the team, we should continue to see more growth and improvement from the Broncos defensive backs.
Leonhard joins a growing list of Broncos coaches receiving interest from other teams this offseason. We have seen tight ends coach Declan Doyle get the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator position, pass game coordinator John Morton is a top candidate for the Lions offensive coordinator job, Chris Banjo has interviewed for multiple special teams coordinator jobs, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and front office member David Shaw have received multiple head coaching and coordinator interviews. Assistant general manager Darren Mougey was also hired to be the New York Jets' new general manager.
Sean Payton has put together a solid coaching staff that has helped bring the Broncos out of the basement and back into being a contender in the AFC. Due to that, teams will start taking from his staff hoping they can get some of the magic he is creating here with the Broncos. I would expect more Broncos coaches to receive interest around the league this offseason and moving forward.
