The Buffalo Bills are hiring Denver Broncos assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard to be their new defensive coordinator, multiple outlets reported on Saturday.
Leonhard, 43, spent the past two seasons in Denver after one season as a senior football analyst at Illinois (2023) and seven seasons at his alma mater Wisconsin (2016-22). He was the Badgers’ defensive coordinator for six seasons and served as their interim coach after Paul Chryst was fired in October 2022.
Joining new head coach Joe Brady’s staff is a homecoming for Leonhard, a safety who played the first three seasons (and four total) of his 10-year NFL career with the Bills (2005-07, 2013).
Leonhard recorded 431 tackles, 14 interceptions, five fumble recoveries and 4.5 sacks in 142 games (73 starts) with the Bills, Baltimore Ravens (2008), New York Jets (2019-11), Broncos (2012) and Cleveland Browns (2014).
Leonhard joined Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s staff as a defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator in 2024 and added the assistant head coach title in 2025.
On Friday, the Bills reportedly hired Broncos senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael Jr. — a longtime lieutenant of Payton — to become their new offensive coordinator.
The Broncos finished No. 2 in the NFL in total defense (278.2 yards per game) and No. 3 in scoring defense (18.3 per game) this season en route to earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
