Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will be a candidate for multiple head coach jobs this offseason after his impressive 2024 season.
If the Broncos end up losing Joseph to another club, Denver would receive a pair of third-round compensatory draft picks, and they likely have an in-house replacement ready for a promotion.
Broncos defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard has defensive coordinator and (interim) head coach experience at the college level, and he has interviewed for multiple DC jobs in the NFL in the past. Leonhard has a bright future in coaching, and he would be a logical replacement candidate if Joseph leaves.
“Jim is a great teacher,” Joseph said of Leonhard last summer. “Obviously, he played a long time in this league and it wasn’t because of his speed or his size. He’s a great teacher of the position and that’s important. We have young players who have to get better at fundamentals and technique and having a higher I.Q. as far as the schematics. So he’s a perfect fit for us.
“Coming from college, you’re coaching blank pages from freshmen to sophomores, and guys get better every single year with coaching. So he’s been perfect for us.”
As the NFL’s coaching carousel continues to spin, Leonhard will be a name to keep an eye on in Denver.
