 Leonhard with the Denver Broncos in 2012 | |||||||||||||||
| Denver Broncos | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1982-10-27)October 27, 1982 (age 42) Ladysmith, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 188 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Tony (WI) Flambeau | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Wisconsin (2001–2004) | ||||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2005 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
As a player: | |||||||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
As a coach: | |||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||||
| Career: | NCAA: 4–3 (.571) | ||||||||||||||
James Andrew Leonhard (born October 27, 1982) is an American professionalfootball coach and formersafety who is currently the defensive pass game coordinator and assistant head coach for theDenver Broncos of theNational Football League (NFL).
Leonhard playedcollege football atWisconsin and professionally assafety for ten seasons in the NFL. Leonhard was signed by theBuffalo Bills as anundrafted free agent in 2005 after playingcollege football at theUniversity of Wisconsin. He also played for theBaltimore Ravens,New York Jets,Denver Broncos,New Orleans Saints, andCleveland Browns.
Leonhard playedhigh school football at Flambeau High School inTony, Wisconsin,[1] where he was the startingquarterback and strong safety. During his freshman year, 1997, the Flambeau Falcons won the Wisconsin state championship in football in division six over River Ridge high school. He was a team captain in his junior and senior seasons, the same seasons in which he was a first-team All-State performer. He was also named team MVP in his senior year.
Leonhard was awalk-on football player at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, having received no Division I-A scholarship offers out of high school.[2] He was not awarded a scholarship until his senior year, despite the fact that he had been a regular starting safety before that season and had already been named All-Big Ten twice.[3] Noted for his speed, leaping ability, and sure tackling, he totaled 21 interceptions (tied withJamar Fletcher for the most in school history)[4] and made 281 tackles. He held theBig Ten Conference career punt return yardage record with 1,347 yards[4] untilMichigan'sSteve Breaston eclipsed his mark in 2006.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | Bench press | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft8+3⁄8 in (1.74 m) | 191 lb (87 kg) | 29+3⁄4 in (0.76 m) | 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | 4.63 s | 19 reps | |||||||
| All values fromNFL Combine[5][6] | ||||||||||||
Leonhard was the only undrafted rookie on the 53-man opening day roster for the 2005 Bills.[2] He played in 10 games, finishing with 1 kick return for 36 yards.
He was released during the 2006 preseason; however, he was signed 11 days later following an injury to fellow Wisconsin alumnusTroy Vincent. He finished the 2006 season with 13 tackles and 1 fumble recovery while making his first career start on December 10.
In 2007, Leonhard stepped in for injured starterKo Simpson and recorded 13 tackles on opening day against theDenver Broncos. He went on to record 54 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and 1 fumble recovery, despite being hampered by a calf injury halfway through the season.
In 2008, Leonhard signed with theBaltimore Ravens, where he started in 13 of 16 regular season games,[7] replacing the injuredDawan Landry. He set career-high marks with 68 tackles and one sack to go along with one interception, which he returned for a TD against theCincinnati Bengals.[8]
In 2009, Leonhard signed with theNew York Jets, reuniting him with former Ravens defensive coordinator and laterNew York Jets head coach,Rex Ryan.[9] Terms were $6 million for 3 years with $1 million guaranteed.[10]
During the 2009 year, Leonhard started all 16 games making 66 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, 6 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble. His efforts led to the Jets going to the play-offs but eventually losing to theIndianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game.
On December 3, 2010, Leonhard suffered a fractured tibia after a collision with wide receiverPatrick Turner during practice. He underwent surgery the same night and was ruled out for the rest of the 2010 season. Leonhard played 11 games in 2010 making 56 tackles, 1 interception, 4 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. The Jets would go to the play-offs again but lose the AFC Championship to thePittsburgh Steelers.
During a game against theKansas City Chiefs on December 11, 2011, Leonhard landed awkwardly after catching an interception thrown byTyler Palko. Leonhard was carried off the field by a medical cart. A few days later, an MRI revealed that there was a tornpatellar tendon in his right knee. As a result, Leonhard was eliminated for the rest of the 2011 season.[11] Leonhard played 13 games in 2011 making 48 tackles, 1 interception, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.
In August 2012, Leonhard agreed to a one-year deal with theDenver Broncos.[12] During the 2012 season with the Broncos, Leonhard made 17 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and 1 fumble recovery in 16 games (1 start).
In April 2013, Leonhard signed a one-year deal with theNew Orleans Saints.[13] He was released before the season.[14]
Leonhard signed a contract with the Bills in September 2013, returning to the club where he started his professional career.[15] During his first season back with Buffalo in 2013, Leonhard made 41 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 5 passes defended in 16 games (6 starts).
In 2014, Leonhard joined theCleveland Browns. He made 27 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions and 3 passes defensed.[16] He retired following the season.[17]
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | GS | Comb | Total | Ast | Sack | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
| 2005 | BUF | 10 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | BUF | 15 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | BUF | 13 | 6 | 54 | 44 | 10 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 60 | 30 | 36 | 0 | 3 |
| 2008 | BAL | 16 | 13 | 69 | 55 | 14 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 1 | 6 |
| 2009 | NYJ | 16 | 16 | 76 | 53 | 23 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 5 |
| 2010 | NYJ | 11 | 11 | 61 | 57 | 4 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2011 | NYJ | 13 | 13 | 48 | 38 | 10 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2012 | DEN | 16 | 1 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 | BUF | 16 | 7 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 72 | 18 | 41 | 0 | 6 |
| 2014 | CLE | 16 | 5 | 43 | 27 | 16 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 17 | 34 | 0 | 3 |
| Career | 142 | 73 | 428 | 329 | 99 | 4.5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 247 | 17.6 | 44 | 1 | 35 | |
In February 2016, Leonhard joinedPaul Chryst's staff athis alma mater asdefensive backs coach.[19][20] In his year off between retiring from the NFL and being named DB coach for the Badgers, Leonhard spent his time studying college film with then-Wisconsin Defensive CoordinatorDave Aranda and familiarizing himself with schemes that exist in college football that aren't prevalent in the NFL, such as thezone-read option offense. Prior to UW DB coach Daronte Jones leaving UW for an assistant coaching position with the Dolphins, Leonhard had been asking Paul Chryst about joining the Badgers staff.[21]
In February 2017, Leonhard was named the new defensive coordinator of the Badgers, replacingJustin Wilcox, who became the new head coach ofCalifornia.[22] In late November 2017, Leonhard was named one of five finalists for theBroyles Award which recognized the top assistant coach in college football.[23]
On October 2, 2022, Leonhard was named interim head coach of the Badgers following the firing ofPaul Chryst.
After Wisconsin hiredLuke Fickell as head coach in November 2022,[24] Leonhard announced that he would be leaving Wisconsin at the end of the 2022 football season.[25]
On July 25, 2023,Illinois announced they had hired Leonhard as a senior football anaylst.[26]
On February 14, 2024, Leonhard was named as defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator for theDenver Broncos.[27]
On March 6, 2025, Leonhard was promoted to assistant head coach, while remaining the defensive pass game coordinator.[28]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Badgers(Big Ten Conference)(2022) | |||||||||
| 2022 | Wisconsin | 4–3[a] | 4–3 | 5th(West) | |||||
| Wisconsin: | 4–3 | 4–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 4–3 | ||||||||
Leonhard grew up in Tony and played at Flambeau High School from 1996 to 2000 where he won a state championship.
Leonhard didn't earn a scholarship at UW until his senior season, despite being a starter as a sophomore and a junior.
During his time as a student-athlete at Wisconsin Leonhard tallied 21 interceptions, tying Jamar Fletcher's school record. He also broke the Big Ten record with 1,347 career punt return yards.
