The Los Angeles Chargers had a decent 2025 campaign, but after crashing out of the playoffs once again, it was clear that changes needed to be made. Sure enough, Jim Harbaugh‘s coaching staff will look very different in 2026, as he quickly fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman, before losing defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the Baltimore Ravens‘ head coaching gig.
Harbaugh moved quickly to replace Roman, as the team recently hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to be its new offensive coordinator. Now, he’s begun searching for a new defensive coordinator, and it looks like the Chargers are one of several teams showing interest in Denver Broncos‘ defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Chargers Request to Interview Jim Leonhard for Defensive Coordinator Opening
The Broncos’ recent elimination from the playoffs has shaken up the coaching carousel once again, as two highly-touted assistant coaches, Leonhard and offensive pass game coordinator Davis Webb, have freed up for interviews. While Webb could land a head coach job, Leonhard has quickly become a top defensive coordinator candidate across the league.
Leonhard is a unique candidate, as he has five years of experience working as a defensive coordinator with the Wisconsin Badgers in the world of college football. After briefly being the team’s interim head coach in 2022, Leonhard spent a year with the Illinois Fighting Illini as a senior football analyst before landing with the Broncos.
This past season, Leonhard worked as an assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator, meaning he played a big role in helping Denver’s defense become one of the top units in the league. Harbaugh has certainly taken note of Leonhard’s work, as the Chargers have to play the Broncos twice a year, and he recently put in a request to interview him for his defensive coordinator opening.
“The Chargers are requesting to interview Broncos defensive passing game coordinator and assistant head coach Jim Leonhard for their vacant defensive coordinator position, source says. Leonhard also has interest from the Bills, among others,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X.
Should the Chargers Hire Jim Leonhard?
GettyBroncos’ defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard has emerged as the Bills’ top defensive coordinator target
Leonhard’s experience, combined with his work in Denver, has made him a very desirable defensive coordinator candidate. The Buffalo Bills have also emerged as a top suitor for Leonhard, so it’s clear that if Los Angeles intends on landing him, its going to have make a strong pitch to him.
It is worth noting that Leonhard has ties to the Bills, as he spent four seasons of his playing career with them, which could put the Chargers at a disadvantage when it comes to their pursuit of him. However, Los Angeles also has a defense that has already proven it is a top-tier unit, which means that Leonhard could have a better shot of succeeding with them. It seems like the team’s pursuit of Leonhard has only begun, and he is a candidate worth keeping an eye on over the coming days.
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