The Green Bay Packers may look for a Joe Barry replacement after the season. Should they wish to add to their staff, Jim Leonhard makes a lot of sense.
This wouldn’t be the first time Jim Leonhard was connected to a Packers assistant opening, as he was offered the defensive coordinator job by Matt LaFleur just a few years ago but opted to stay at Wisconsin instead.
Since the Badgers hired Luke Fickell to lead the program instead of Leonhard, could the former NFL safety lead Green Bay’s defense instead?
Would Jim Leonhard join the Packers coaching staff?
Dairyland Express’s Paul Bretl outlined Jim Leonhard’s transition from college to the NFL, and how he might fit in Green Bay:
“Although there are certainly differences between college football and the NFL, Leonhard’s scheme at Wisconsin, if carried over to the Packers, would be a breath of fresh air. Leonhard utilizes a 3-4 defense, but he is adaptable and is willing to play a variety of fronts depending on what the defense is doing. He also has a lot of movement pre-snap by the front seven to help muddy things up for the quarterback and will use stunts and blitzes often, as he’s not afraid to leave his cornerbacks in man coverage. Leonhard built an aggressive and physical defense at Wisconsin.”
Green Bay’s defensive coordinator job won’t be available until, at least, season’s end. LaFleur and Co. must hope that Leonhard doesn’t have a new job by then.
While he struggled at times in his limited head coaching experience at Wisconsin, there is a reason why he was tabbed as the leader of the program once the Badgers fired Paul Chryst. Leonhard could easily sign on to lead another college program, perhaps out of the Power 5, and prove himself that way.
But if Leonhard waits, the Packers DC job should be his if he wants it.