Buffalo Bills are hiring Denver Broncos assistant head coach/defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard as their defensive coordinator

Leonhard has been one of the hottest names in the defensive coordinator market. He had interviews with the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens for their defensive coordinator positions and was linked and/or interviewed with the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Jets. He was also considered the Broncos’ top in-house option to replace defensive coordinator Vance Joseph if he landed a head coaching job this offseason. However, with all signs pointing to Joseph staying in Denver, Leonhard explored his options and landed the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator job.

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This is a bit of a loss for the Broncos’ defensive coaching staff. Leonhard was an assistant head coach and the team’s defensive pass game coordinator. They also fired their cornerbacks coach, Addison Lynch, earlier in the week, so it appears that the Broncos will be making some changes to their defensive coaching staff this offseason.

This is also the second coach the Buffalo Bills have taken from the Broncos’ staff. Earlier this week, they named former Denver Broncos offensive assistant coach Pete Carmichael Jr. their offensive coordinator. He has ties to the Bills’ newly hired head coach, Joe Brady, and now he will be his offensive coordinator in Buffalo.

Leonhard will take over a Bills defense that struggled badly against the run and saw Broncos quarterback Bo Nix throw 3 touchdowns against him in the divisional round of the playoffs. If he can turn that defense around and quarterback Josh Allen plays at his usual MVP level, the Bills can be Super Bowl contenders once again in the AFC.