Bills might lose out on coveted prospect in first major blow of the Joe Brady era in Buffalo
Not the news that Bills Mafia was hoping to hear after Joe Brady became the next head coach of the Bills.
The Buffalo Bills are making changes, while remaining largely the same, with the recent announcement to promote former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach.
Well, it looks like one of Brady’s first coveted prospects might be heading to a new organization. News broke that the Bills and Brady saw Denver Broncos assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard as the “leading candidate” to become the next defensive coordinator.
Not so fast, it looks like Buffalo isn’t the only one in the market for the talented defensive caller, as Ian Rapoport shared that the Los Angeles Chargers are requesting to interview Leonhard for their vacant defensive coordinator position. Buffalo could lose out on Brady’s top prospect.
Jim Leonhard has ties to Buffalo dating back to his playing days in the league
One thing working in Buffalo’s favor is that Leonhard is familiar with One Bills Drive. He was a player in the organization as a defensive back, playing for the team from 2005 to 2007. During his time in Buffalo, he played in 14 games with six interceptions, 118 combined tackles, and nine passes defensed.
He’s had a decorated coaching career dating back to his time with the Wisconsin Badgers. He coached for six seasons as both the defensive coordinator and the interim head coach for the 2022 season. He was inducted into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame as one of the most successful players to ever put on a Badgers jersey, but his impact on the coaching staff may have been greater.
In Leonhard’s five seasons as defensive coordinator, as the UW Badgers reported, the team ranked in the nation’s top five in total defense and top 10 in scoring defense four times. A remarkable effort from Leonhard and his team. Much like Brady during his time with LSU, Leonhard was a finalist for the Broyles award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach, in his first season with Wisconsin.
After leaving Wisconsin, he spent one season as Illinois’ senior football analyst before moving to the NFL, where he became the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the Denver Broncos. He was promoted to assistant head coach during his short tenure and is now one of the most coveted defensive coordinators in the game.
Like Leonhard on the defensive side, Brady’s resume is defined by elite recognition and rapid advancement, making their potential pairing more than a coincidence; it’s philosophical symmetry.
A look at Joe Brady’s coaching history through college and the NFL
Brady has had a successful career, beginning in 2013, when he served as the linebackers coach at William & Mary. This was followed by a graduate assistant position with Penn State in 2015 and 2016. He quickly rose through the ranks, jumping to the NFL in 2017-2018 with the New Orleans Saints as their offensive assistant before returning to his college roots.
What really propelled Brady’s career was his time as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at LSU. This is when quarterback Joe Burrow went nuclear, winning the national championship, and thanks to his efforts, Brady won the Broyles Award. With such exposure and being the literal best at his position, it was no wonder the NFL came calling again.
Brady was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2020 to 2021 before joining Buffalo in 2022. Brady, much like he had throughout his career, rose through the ranks in Buffalo. Starting as the quarterbacks coach from 2022-2023, he quickly became the interim offensive coordinator in 2023 and never looked back, taking over the job outright and serving as the Bills’ offensive coordinator since 2024.
Whether Leonhard ultimately chooses Buffalo or another opportunity, the situation underscores a new reality for the Bills under Joe Brady. Early momentum matters, and competition for elite coaching talent will be fierce from the very start.
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