The NFL has been taking part in the Jim Leonhard sweepstakes. A large number of both head coach and defensive coordinator positions were open after the regular season. Leonhard's name was a hot commodity for those DC coaching gigs.
He reportedly had interest from the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, and more. Impatience forced some of them to move before Leonhard could even be interviewed, but now, NFL Insider Adam Schefter reveals it's the Buffalo Bills that are expected to land Leonhard.
Sources: Broncos defensive pass coordinator Jim Leonhard is expected to be a leading candidate to become the next defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. pic.twitter.com/LuWD0G4u3a
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 27, 2026
Jim Leonhard is the leading candidate to be the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills
This may be one of the best open positions out there, and Leonhard gets to go help a team that already has plenty of pieces to compete for a division title as early as next season. While the deal isn't done yet, Schefter rarely misses on these things. You can consider that Leonhard will exchange his Denver Broncos blue for Buffalo Bills blue.
The former Wisconsin player and coach will actually be heading back home in one sense. He started his NFL career as a player with the Buffalo Bills. He went undrafted out of Wisconsin but was signed to the Bills' 53-man roster in 2005. He was mostly a special teams player but showed plenty of promise both in kick coverage and as a returner.
Many Wisconsin Badger fans were hoping for Leonhard to have a homecoming to Wisconsin and coach for the Green Bay Packers, but it looks like it will be a far different homecoming for Leonhard.
The good and even great news for Leonhard fans is that this option was the best of the bunch. There's no better setup as far as the openings go with an NFL ownership that wants to do all they can to win. This is good news for Leonhard as he moves up in the NFL coaching world.