The Green Bay Packers are once again in the market for a new defensive coordinator - their fourth under head coach Matt LaFleur. As LaFleur enters his eighth season at the helm, the revolving door at the DC position continues to spin.
Mike Pettine was the first, his contract expiring after the 2020 season. Joe Barry followed, but after three underwhelming years, the team moved on.
Most recently, Jeff Hafley left the role after just one season to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
Now, the Packers are back at square one, looking to find the right architect to lead a defense that has shown flashes but never quite found consistency during LaFleur’s tenure.
So far, three candidates have either interviewed or are expected to meet with the team. But there's another name generating buzz - one that hasn’t officially entered the interview cycle yet but is gaining serious traction among fans and media alike: Jim Leonhard.
Leonhard is a familiar name in Wisconsin football circles, both as a standout player and as a respected coach. His reputation was built not on flashy recruiting classes or overwhelming talent, but on maximizing what he had - developing players, scheming creatively, and getting the absolute most out of his units.
One of his biggest advocates? Former Packers offensive lineman and Super Bowl champion Mark Tauscher.
Like Leonhard, Tauscher is a product of the Wisconsin Badgers program, and while their playing days didn’t overlap, the connection runs deep. Tauscher has followed Leonhard’s coaching journey closely, and he didn’t hold back when asked about what Leonhard brings to the table.
“I watched Jimmy Leonhard with a defense at Wisconsin that was not overly talented,” Tauscher said. “And you know what I always saw? Guys developing and overachieving!”
That’s the kind of endorsement that resonates, especially in Green Bay - a franchise that prides itself on player development and maximizing homegrown talent. Tauscher went on to praise the way Leonhard’s defenses played, particularly the linebackers and secondary, noting how consistently they outschemed opponents.
And that’s a key point. Green Bay’s secondary has been a sore spot in recent seasons.
Despite investing heavily in the position - both through the draft and financially - the results haven’t matched the potential. Leonhard’s track record with defensive backs could be exactly what the Packers need to turn that unit around.
There’s just one catch: Leonhard isn’t currently available to interview. He’s serving as the assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator for the Denver Broncos, who are preparing for the AFC Championship this weekend. But once the Broncos’ season wraps - whether that’s after Sunday or two weeks from now - Leonhard’s interview window will open.
And according to recent reports, Matt LaFleur is eager to bring him in for a conversation.
It’s still early in the process, but the idea of Jim Leonhard returning to Wisconsin - this time in green and gold - is an intriguing one. He’s a coach who has proven he can do more with less, and in a league where defensive innovation and adaptability are at a premium, that kind of résumé carries weight.
For now, the Packers wait. But if Leonhard becomes available and the interest is mutual, Green Bay may have a serious candidate who fits both the culture and the need.