Leonhard Declines Offer to Become Packers’ Defensive Coordinator
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jim Leonhard will not be the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator.
According to Wisconsin State Journal columnist Tom Oates, Leonhard turned down an offer from Matt LaFleur to replace Mike Pettine. A source confirmed the news on Saturday morning.
Leonhard interviewed for the job via Zoom on Tuesday and in person on Thursday. According to Oates, he informed LaFleur of his decision on Friday.
Leonhard was incredibly interested in coaching his home-state team but decided to stay at the University of Wisconsin, where he starred as a player and has become a star in the coaching world.
“Really, that’s it,” his Madison-based agent, Tim Valentyn, said. “This is a rite of spring every year. There’s a laundry list of top-shelf college teams that come at him and he’s always really upfront, transparent, honest with them and with the university about the fact that, sure, he’s willing to listen and explore but it’s going to be a tough sell to get him out of here.”
Over his four seasons as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator, the Badgers rank third nationally in scoring defense (17.2 points per game), fourth in yards allowed (297.9 yards per game), fifth in rushing defense (112.3 yards per game) and fifth in pass efficiency defense (109.0). Wisconsin forced the second-most turnovers (104) and intercepted the second-most passes (68) during that span.
In 2020, Wisconsin finished ninth in scoring defense, fifth in rushing defense, fifth in total defense and fifth on third down. In 2019, Leonhard’s unit posted four shutouts — the first Big Ten team to do so since 1962 — and set a school record by allowing opponents to convert just 27.2 percent of their third-down attempts. It finished second in sacks per game with a school-record 51.
With LaFleur replacing Pettine, it was common knowledge that the native of Tony, Wis., would be hard to pry loose from Wisconsin.
A former All-American safety at Wisconsin before a lengthy NFL career – most of which came in Pettine-coached defenses – he’s laid roots in Madison. According to Over the years, he’s turned down overtures from Alabama, Florida State, Texas A&M and Michigan to run their defenses. This offseason, he was a candidate for at least one other NFL defensive coordinator job as well as head coach at the University of Illinois. Unlike the Green Bay opportunity, Leonhard never let those get beyond introductory conversations.
He also is well paid. According to USA Today, Leonhard ranks 22nd among all college assistant football coaches with an annual salary of almost $1.13 million. According to a source, the average NFL defensive coordinator makes between $750,000 and $850,000 per year.
Money, however, was not a problem. Instead, the only thing standing between Leonhard and Green Bay was loyalty toward his alma mater.
“I understand what UW is all about,” Leonhard said late in the season. “It’s home for myself. I grew up here. This was kind of the dream job to come back and coach. Also being on a lot of different teams, you just realize the culture is different every single place. Not bad. Doesn’t mean it’s bad or good. Just understand it’s different. There is a comfort level here, understanding what this place is about and how I’m allowed to coach and act and recruit. Kind of the whole big picture of what college football is.
“There’s other places that do it the right way, and you’d like to take that culture wherever you go. But I definitely understand what Wisconsin is. And a big part of me coaching is wanting to come back here and make this place better. I had a great experience as a player and want to give that back to the next generation.”
Los Angeles Chargers defensive passing game coordinator Joe Barry and Los Angeles Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero are potential replacements. LaFleur coached with both of them with the Rams in 2017. Defensive backs coach Jerry Gray was the internal candidate.
