As they continue searching for a successor to former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, the Chargers have requested an interview with Broncos assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
If Leonhard interviews with the Chargers, he’ll become the seventh candidate to discuss their D-coordinator position since Minter became the Ravens’ head coach on Jan. 22. Minter earned a promotion after two stellar years in Los Angeles. Under his leadership, the Chargers’ defense finished top 10 in the NFL in scoring twice in a row, including No. 1 in 2024, and fifth in yards allowed in 2025.
Leonhard doesn’t have any professional experience as a coordinator, but he held the role at Wisconsin from 2017-22. Since leaving the college ranks, the former NFL defensive back has garnered two years’ experience on Denver’s staff. He began as the Broncos’ defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator in 2024.
While the Broncos ranked a below-average 19th in pass defense a season ago, cornerback Patrick Surtain II earned Defensive Player of the Year honors on Leonhard’s watch. The Broncos improved to seventh against the pass in 2025, but they couldn’t get past the Patriots in the AFC title game despite holding quarterback Drake Maye to 86 yards in inclement weather.
With the Broncos’ season over, Leonhard could head elsewhere for a promotion in the coming days. The 43-year-old interviewed with the Cowboys and Jets for defensive coordinator earlier this month, though Dallas has since filled its job with the hiring of Christian Parker. The Bills are also expected to pursue Leonhard, but they haven’t requested an interview yet.
Here’s a look at where the Chargers’ DC search stands:
- Steve Clinkscale, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/26
- Adam Fuller, safeties coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/26
- Jim Leonhard, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interview requested
- Zach Orr, defensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/23
- Aubrey Pleasant, pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/24
- Dylan Roney, outside linebackers coach (Chargers): Interviewed 1/26
- Dennard Wilson, former defensive coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/23
Interesting he does comes from ravens system
He spent one year playing there under Rex Ryan. I’m not sure that counts.
@Oooof. Didn’t he play with Ryan on the jets
After he spent one year with him on the Ravens.
He spent more time with the Bills
@Sherminator. Also the time when everyone was hiring the ravens Defensive staff. Either way counted five, and stopped.
The Bills brought him into the NFL as an undrafted rookie (played thre years) and then brought him back for a year. later in his career And he never coached for the Ravens.
He never was an assistant with the Ravens, he went from Wisconsin to Illinois to th Broncos.
@tangerinepony. Never said he was. He played with Rex Ryan. I bet he runs something similar to Minter.
Thanks for confusing everyone. You did allude to him coaching for Baltimore, but tangerinepony is correct, he didn’t.
@sherminator. Never said he wasn’t. Yes I read the article. Ravens system could as a player as well. Do you want me to say you win
He has his own system he ran at Wisconsin. Minter, McDonald, and all those defensive coaches under Martindale came up with that scheme together, which is an update on Rex Ryan’s system, which was an update of Marvin Lewis’s system. If anything, he’s picked up stuff from Joseph the last two years to add to what he already did. I didn’t see any similarities in how he ran a defense in college to the Baltimore stuff.
@real. At the end of the day. Im sure everyone is running something similar or atleast trying to replicate it. If you pull it up. Its sounds like its close to minter’s. I haven’t seen a side by side comparison just read of their styles by articles, and it’s definitely the same on paper. Chargers are probably interested in weakening the broncos, but they have clinkscale with Michigan ties and was co-DC with Minter probably the best option and it’s in house. Leonhard will probably be leaving soon for a HC job.
Should be a solid hire for Harbaugh and the chargers. His teams with the badgers and broncos always had a good pass defense