Jim Leonhard’s first trip to the other sideline as a defensive coordinator comes with a familiar backdrop. The Bills coach is heading into a Week 10 matchup with the Jets, the team where he spent three seasons as a player and helped form one of the league’s toughest defenses.
For Leonhard, the meeting is more than just another division game. He arrived in New York in 2009 after following Rex Ryan from Baltimore, then carved out a strong run with the Jets as an undrafted free agent safety. Over those three years, he piled up 184 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three interceptions and 15 pass breakups while helping anchor the defense during the team’s back-to-back AFC Championship Game runs.
Now he’s back in the Jets’ orbit, only this time as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator under Joe Brady. And the connections don’t stop with his playing days in New York.
Ahead of the matchup, Leonhard was asked what it will be like to coach against Geno Smith, a quarterback he faced late in his own career. His answer made clear that these crossovers have become part of the job as he’s moved deeper into coaching.
"We just played a head coach (Kevin O'Connell) that I played with, so, getting to that age, I guess. You know, Aaron Glenn coached me my last year in the NFL. So, it's always unique; you kind of grow into the business, and you start to see different names and faces that you're very familiar with."
Leonhard also had praise for Smith, pointing to the veteran quarterback’s staying power in the league. And he made sure to mention Braelon Allen, a player he recruited while coaching at Wisconsin from 2016 to 2022.
"I've known Braelon for a long time. I've known him since he was 16 years old. Just seeing him coming into his own, playing with confidence, running behind his pads, the physicality, the vision that he's playing with-- anytime you have that two-headed monster... they're going to make you earn that tackle at the end of it."
That’s the challenge facing Buffalo on Sunday: the Jets may not be easy to completely erase offensively, even if questions remain about the coaching around them. The Bills will have to deal with the playmakers, and Leonhard knows exactly what kind of talent he’s looking at on the other side.
In Other News...
Jets Could Get A Needed Defensive Lift Against The Bills
The Jets are heading into their matchup with the Bills with a healthier look than they have had in weeks, and that matters for a defense that has been trying to piece things together through injuries. Aaron Glenn said most of the starters should be available, with Trevin Wallace the lone player ruled out, while Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr., Harrison Phillips and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. are all on track to suit up.
The biggest boost could come from Joseph Ossai, who has missed much of the season with a foot injury and has appeared in only three games so far. If he is back in the mix, it gives New York another edge option as it tries to stiffen up against Buffalo and get a more complete defensive effort at a time when every available body matters. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Just Added Intrigue To A Jets Season That Feels Lost
With the Bills set to face the Jets in Week 10, Buffalo is treating this as more than just another divisional game. Joe Brady said the Jets are better than their record suggests, pointing to an offense that has stayed competitive in a lot of close games, which is at least a nod to how much fight has remained in a season that otherwise has gone sideways in New York.
For Buffalo, the stakes are straightforward: keep building its position in the AFC East and protect a better playoff path. For the Jets, even a season that feels lost still has a way of creating problems for an opponent, especially one that has to prove its defense can handle a team that has been hanging around in games and making things uncomfortable late. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Have Every Reason To Push Back On Geno Smith Narrative
Geno Smith has given the Jets something they have not had enough of this season: stability at quarterback. Even with the team struggling in the standings, Smith has put together a solid individual year, ranking 10th in passing yards and seventh in passer rating, a reminder that the position has not been the problem every Sunday. His play has also forced a rethink from the preseason, when he was slotted 32nd in FanSideds quarterback rankings and has since climbed to 26th.
For a fan base that has spent years waiting for competent quarterback play, there is a real case for pushing back on any narrative that treats Smith like a placeholder. The conversation now is less about whether he can be useful and more about what the Jets do next, especially with talk that he could still be around in 2027 to help guide the teams future first-round pick. That kind of bridge value matters, even if the bigger answer at quarterback is still unresolved. [Read more 🡒]