The Green Bay Packers fired Joe Berry earlier this week and there are several candidates who could fill the job.
One candidate who stands out because of his Wisconsin connections and successful record is candidate Jim Leonhard. Most Packers fans know Leonhart, 41, as the defensive coordinator for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2017 to 2022.Leonhard began his career playing defensive end and safety at the University of Wisconsin from 2001 to 2004. He was a three-time All-American and three-time Big Ten player at Madison.
He played for six NFL teams, including the New York Jets, where he was coached by quarterback Rex Ryan from 2005 to 2014. The University of Wisconsin hired him as the defensive backs coach under coordinator Justin Wilcox and head coach Paul Chryst.
When Wilcox took over as Cal’s head coach after the 2016 season, Wisconsin promoted Leonhard to defensive coordinator. In their first year on defense, the Badgers gave up 262.1 yards and 13.9 points per game.
It ranks first in the Big Ten and second in the nation behind Alabama’s Crimson Tide. Wisconsin won 13 of 14 games on the year, held Ohio State to 27 points and forced three turnovers in the Big Ten championship game.
In 2019, Leonhardt’s defense ranked second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and fourth in the nation. -3- As the 2022 college football season begins, the Badgers fire Chris and hire Leonhardt as their head coach. Wisconsin finished that season with a 4-3 record and played in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. He served as the defensive coordinator for that game under Luke Fickell. Leonhard retired from Wisconsin in 2022 and is a senior football analyst at the University of Illinois. After the Packers fired Mike Pettine after the 2020 season, he was offered the defensive coordinator job, but Leonhard turned it down and stayed at Wisconsin.
He has a track record of success, learned defensive skills from some great coaches and is young and energetic. The Packers may need 44-year-old Matt LaFleur to add to their young and energetic roster. If they offer him the job again, Leonhard would benefit from Green Bay owning D.C. Going from unknown college analyst to defensive coordinator for one of the most prestigious organizations in the NFL, if not all of sports, will take his football program to the next level.
As Leonhard has built a following during his time in Madison, many of his fans are encouraged to do so on social media.
While at Wisconsin, Leonhard ran a 2-4-5 that relied primarily on getting behind the linebackers to protect the pass. But he also used a 2-4-5, technically with only two defensive linemen on the field, and had more lineball offense to put unexpected pressure on multiple sides. Joe Barry also went 2-4-5 on the season. He said Green Bay’s defense was lacking because it focused on pass defense. It may seem surprising, but Leonhard played from 2009 to 2011 and learned from Rex Ryan of the New York Jets, allowing him to adjust his scheme to a 3-3-5 to better protect the position by eliminating linebackers .The third liner is then placed on the field. Unlike Barry’s defense, Leonhard’s unit played close and aggressive.
Despite having five defensive lines on the pitch, Barry often took corners from distance. This gave the receiver room on the route and allowed him to take a shorter route. Leonhardt’s youthful volume and enthusiasm allows him to force his supporting players to play together and play to win instead of playing to avoid defeat. Now seems like a good time for Leonhard to come home and coach the Packers.
