Ex-Badgers Coach Leonhard Considered for NFL Role

Jim Leonhard, as everyone knows, will not return to the Wisconsin Badgers football program. After years as the Badgers defensive coordinator, he took over as interim head coach when Paul Chryst was fired. After Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh hired Luke Fickell, Leonhard made the decision to leave the program following the Badgers’ Bowl Game. As a coaching free agent, Leonhard has been linked to several positions on both the collegiate and NFL levels. In a recent article on SB Nation’s Turf Show Times, one Los Angeles Rams writer named Jim Leonhard as a possible replacement for Raheem Morris, the Rams’ defensive coordinator.

Raheem Morris Is a Finalist for the Indiana Colts Head Coaching Job

Jim Leonhard could replace Raheem Morris as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator — Oct 16, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris watches from the sidelines in the second half against the Carolina Panthers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

To be clear, Raheem Morris is in no danger of being fired by the Rams. However, he is one of the few finalists for the Colts’ head coaching job. The interview process in Indiana has reached the point where owner Jim Irsay is doing a third round of interviews with select candidates. In addition to Morris, Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is one of the finalists.

The Rams Have Been Interested in Jim Leonhard Before

According to Turf Show Times:

“Sean McVay has had interest in Jim Leonhard from Wisconsin in the past. McVay had interest in Leonhard back in 2020, but ended up hiring Brandon Staley instead. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams went back to Leonhard a second time if Raheem Morris is hired as he’s one of the top defensive minds in the college ranks.”

It recently came to light that the Wisconsin Badgers are paying Leonhard $1 million this season as part of his departure package. There is certainly no rush, at least for Leonhard himself, to take a coaching job right now. However, if the Rams (or any other NFL team) were to come calling, it would be great to see him on a sideline again.

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