The Buffalo Bills have found their new defensive leader - and it’s a name that carries weight on both sides of the ball.
Jim Leonhard, most recently the Broncos’ pass game coordinator and assistant head coach, is heading to Buffalo to take over as defensive coordinator under new head coach Joe Brady. It’s a move that signals both continuity and ambition for a franchise looking to retool its identity while staying competitive in the AFC.
Leonhard brings a deep football résumé and a reputation as one of the sharper defensive minds in the game. A former NFL safety, he played 10 seasons in the league, including a three-year stretch with the Jets from 2009 to 2011, where he was a key piece of the defense that helped New York reach back-to-back AFC Championship Games. He also suited up for the Bills, Ravens, Broncos, and Browns - so he’s no stranger to the AFC landscape, or to Buffalo for that matter.
Leonhard had recently interviewed virtually for the Jets’ defensive coordinator opening, one of eight candidates the team considered. But while the Jets opted to go in a different direction, the Bills saw their opportunity and didn’t wait around.
Meanwhile, in New York, the Jets filled their own defensive coordinator vacancy by hiring Brian Duker, who had been the Dolphins’ pass game coordinator. Duker has a strong connection to Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, having worked under him in Detroit from 2021 to 2023.
During that time, Duker held several roles on Glenn’s defensive staff, including defensive backs coach, safeties coach, and defensive assistant. That familiarity likely played a big role in the hire.
Glenn is expected to take a more hands-on approach with the defense this coming season, so bringing in someone like Duker - young, sharp, and already aligned with Glenn’s philosophy - fits the mold. At just 36 years old, Duker represents a blend of youth and experience, and he steps into a role that comes with high expectations after the Jets parted ways with Steve Wilks following a tough Week 15 loss to the Jaguars.
So now, both the Bills and Jets have their defensive coordinators in place. Leonhard heads back to Buffalo, this time with a headset instead of a helmet, while Duker joins a Jets team looking to rebound and reestablish its defensive identity. Two AFC East teams, two fresh voices on defense - and plenty of storylines to follow as we look ahead to 2026.