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The Bills have their defensive coordinator.
Buffalo hired Broncos defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach Jim Leonhard for the opening as the franchise continues its staff shake-up, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday.
Leonhard has spent the last two seasons in Denver under Sean Payton, joining the team in 2024 as a defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach.
The 2025 Broncos were one of the top defensive teams in the NFL during the regular season, allowing the second-fewest yards per game (278.2) and fourth-fewest points per game (18.5).
Secondary coach Jim Leonhard of the Denver Broncos stands on the field before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, January 4, 2026. DPThe Chargers and Ravens had also expressed interest in Leonhard for their DC vacancies.
Before joining the Broncos, Leonhard spent one season as an analyst at the college level for Illinois.
In the seven years prior, Leonhard served in various roles at Wisconsin, including interim head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.
The hiring marks a return to Buffalo for Leonhard, who joined the Bills in 2005 after going undrafted out of Wisconsin.
Leonhard spent three seasons with the team during his first stint before rejoining the franchise in 2013.
He also spent time with the Ravens, Jets, Broncos and Browns during his NFL career.
Leonhard’s hiring is perhaps the most important for the staff of Joe Brady, who was promoted to head coach earlier this week after serving as the Bills’ offensive coordinator for the last two seasons.
Brady replaces Sean McDermott, who was fired following Buffalo’s divisional round loss to Leonhard’s Broncos after nine seasons at the helm.
On the offensive side, the Bills announced Saturday that they hired Pete Carmichael, who also spent the last two seasons working for Payton, to be the team’s OC.
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