Jim Leonhard Already Getting Rave Reviews as Bills DC

The Buffalo Bills caused a stir during the offseason when they promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the head coach position after letting long-time head coach Sean McDermott walk.

While that move got lots of attention, now, another change for the team is drawing looks.

In a piece published on Wednesday, May 27, Mike Sando of The Athletic named his favorite moves for each NFL franchise during the league’s offseason. “With most major NFL offseason moves complete, it’s a good time to single out a favorite move for each team,” he says in the feature. “This exercise is always easier for some teams than for others, so some of these ‘favorites’ are relative to what’s available.”

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For the Bills, he gives the team high praise for adding Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator.

“New coach Joe Brady noted he’s never worked with Leonhard, an indication Brady was interested in hiring the best person, not just a close friend,” he states in the piece. “But the two share many connections through their former boss, Sean Payton, so this wasn’t an unknown hire, either.”

He adds: “Leonhard had a market last offseason, but Payton held on to him, promoting Leonhard to assistant head coach. Now, Leonhard returns to Buffalo, where he played from 2005 to 2007, and Buffalo gets a new scheme on the defensive side.”

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Brady is an offensive-minded coach, and his work as the head coach of the Bills will center on that. But, defense wins championships, as they say, and that was apparent with the Seahawks last season. Leonhard is a more exciting hire than people realize, and his leadership should help take the Bills’ defense to the next level.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 11:05 AM.