As if the New York Jets offseason couldn’t get any weirder, it seems fans are about to lose out on their top candidate to take over the defensive coordinator position.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Denver Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard is expected to join the Buffalo Bills staff as new head coach Joe Brady’s defensive coordinator.
Leonhard, a former Jet, interviewed with New York, but it appears both sides are headed in different directions.
Now, the Jets are likely to see him twice a year in the AFC East, as he looks to coordinate Buffalo’s defense.
Jets Fans Having a Rough News Day
The report from Schefter came at possibly the worst time for New York Jets fans.
It was just reported today that New York is also parting ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, a move that was questionable at best in the minds of some fans and analysts.
Now the Jets are looking to fill both their offensive and defensive coordinator positions, and with the OC search starting on January 27, it feels like there is no real plan in place for the 2026 offseason.
And to add insult to injury, the news comes that Leonard is expected to join the Buffalo Bills.
The hits just won’t stop coming.
Was Jim Leonhard Ever a Real Option for the Jets?
While most New York Jets fans were ecstatic at the fact that Leonhard was an option to coach the defense, it seems they never had a legitimate shot at bringing him aboard.
SNY’s Jets insider Connor Hughes said after the Schefter report came out that he “never got the sense” Leonard was a real option at defensive coordinator.
“Makes sense, with Aaron Glenn wanting to call plays,” wrote Hughes.
The recent reporting around the Jets and their vacant defensive coordinator position is that head coach Aaron Glenn is likely to take a hands-on approach in 2026 and call his own defense.
Leonard, who is expected to take his first defensive coordinator position with the Buffalo Bills, likely wants to prove himself as a playcaller.
He was one of the most sought-after defensive coordinator candidates in this cycle, and if all goes well with Buffalo in 2026, he could be getting head coach looks in 2027.
Jim Leonhard’s Coaching Career
After retiring from the NFL in 2014, the former New York Jets safety jumped into coaching just two years later.
He spent time with Wisconsin and Illinois from 2016 to 2023, and finally made the jump to the NFL in 2024, joining Sean Payton’s defensive staff with the Denver Broncos as the defensive pass game coordinator.
Payton himself believes Leonhard has a bright future as a coach.
“I’ve kind of known him for a while and he’s one of those guys — not only myself, but I would say a number of people in the league have tracked and said, ‘This guy has got a real good future as a coach in this league,’” Payton told reporters.
It’s a shame he won’t be taking his talents to the Jets in 2026, but if things in New York go catastrophically wrong this upcoming season, maybe he’s on the shortlist for head coach options in 2027.
Jets Fans’ Favorite DC Candidate Expected to Land Bills Job: Report