Following the 2020 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers made the decision not to renew the contract of then defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who was a holdover from the Mike McCarthy era. Searching for a defensive coordinator for the first time himself, head coach Matt LaFleur interviewed a plethora of candidates, and settled on Wisconsin Badgers legend Jim Leonhard.
Indeed, Leonhard was offered the job then, but turned it down because he had been led to believe that he was going to soon be named the head coach at Wisconsin. Of course, that did not happen as the Badgers passed over Leonhard and hired Luke Fickell instead.
Joe Barry was subsequently hired, and then fired after three disappointing seasons. Jeff Hafley replaced him in 2024, but was hired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins last week, forcing LaFleur to look for a new defensive coordinator again.
And it sounds like the time is right for them to make another run at Leonhard.
The Green Bay Packers and Jim Leonhard have mutual interest
Leonhard’s name, of course, has been one floated out there by Packers fans native to Wisconsin ever since the defensive coordinator job opened. And now, NFL inside Ian Rapoport has written that there is actually mutual interest between Green Bay and the Wisconsin native:
“There also is mutual interest between the Packers and Wisconsin native and ex-Badgers star Jim Leonhard, who currently is Denver’s defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach. While nothing is set, the hope is both sides can get together for a discussion after Sunday’s AFC title game. With Leonhard’s ties to the state, this one makes sense. Leonhard is considered to be one of the top defensive coordinator candidates.”
As Rapoport notes, Leonhard is currently the passing game coordinator and assistant head coach of the Denver Broncos, who are playing in the AFC Championship Game this weekend. NFL rules prohibit any teams from talking to Leonhard until this upcoming Monday.
It sounds, though, win or lose, Leonhard is hoping to get a phone call from Green Bay and that the Packers are going to send him one.
Leonhard has been with the Broncos for the past two seasons and has played a vital role in making their defense one of the most feared units in the NFL.
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