DENVER — The coaching carousel continues to spin across the NFL, and one name quietly gaining traction is Jim Leonhard, currently serving as assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator for the Denver Broncos.

As speculation grows around the future of Vance Joseph, Leonhard has emerged as a potential internal successor should Joseph land a second opportunity as a head coach elsewhere following a busy week of interviews.

Inside league circles, Joseph’s name continues to surface as teams search for experienced leadership at the top of their organizational charts.

If Joseph does depart Denver, the Broncos would face an important decision regarding continuity on the defensive side of the ball.

Leonhard, with his blend of NFL credibility and elite college pedigree, stands squarely in that conversation.

However, Denver may not have the luxury of waiting.

Leonhard himself is generating external interest, signaling that his rise toward a full-time NFL defensive coordinator role may be imminent.

According to reports, Leonhard has received permission to interview for the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator vacancy, a notable development that underscores his growing reputation.

Dallas is actively reshaping its defensive staff after a disastrous 2025 season.

Earlier this week, the Cowboys dismissed Matt Eberflus, the former Chicago Bears head coach who oversaw the unit.

Under Eberflus, Dallas finished dead last in scoring defense and 30th in total defense, marking the franchise’s worst defensive ranking in 12 years.

That collapse has pushed the Cowboys into aggressive pursuit mode, seeking a coach capable of restoring structure, discipline, and identity.

Leonhard’s name fits that profile.

Notably, he is already the fourth Broncos assistant to interview for a higher-level role this week, joining Joseph, Davis Webb, and Darren Rizzi.

That volume alone speaks to how well-regarded Denver’s staff has become under Sean Payton.

Leonhard’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional.

The Broncos hired him in 2024, but his arrival followed a year away from the NFL spotlight.

After undergoing hip replacement surgery, Leonhard spent a season in a limited role as a senior analyst on the Illinois Fighting Illini staff.

That brief pause came after an exceptionally successful collegiate run.

Leonhard served six seasons as defensive coordinator at Wisconsin Badgers, where his defenses became a national benchmark.

During his tenure, Wisconsin led the FBS in total defense twice (2017 and 2021) and finished in the top 10 nationally two additional times.

Those results cemented Leonhard’s reputation as one of the most respected defensive minds in college football.

In 2022, his responsibilities expanded further.

Following the midseason dismissal of head coach Paul Chryst, Leonhard was elevated to interim head coach.

He guided the Badgers to a 4–3 record, stabilizing the program during a turbulent transition.

Despite that showing, Wisconsin elected to pursue a long-term reset, hiring Luke Fickell as the permanent head coach.

The decision led Leonhard to step away from his alma mater, closing a deeply personal chapter in his coaching career.

Denver moved quickly to capitalize on his availability.

The Broncos hired Leonhard as their secondary coach in 2024, bringing him into Payton’s vision for rebuilding the franchise.

In fact, Payton had targeted Leonhard a year earlier while assembling his initial Denver staff in 2023.

At that time, Leonhard chose to prioritize his health, delaying his NFL return until after the hip procedure.

Leonhard’s NFL credibility extends beyond coaching.

He enjoyed a 10-season playing career, including a stint with the Broncos during the 2012 season.

He also spent three seasons (2009–11) with the New York Jets, where he crossed paths with Brian Schottenheimer, then serving as the Jets’ offensive coordinator.

That blend of locker-room experience and schematic expertise has long made Leonhard appealing to NFL decision-makers.

Interest in him is not new.

Following the 2020 season, Leonhard interviewed with the Green Bay Packers for their defensive coordinator opening.

He was offered the position.

Ultimately, he declined, choosing to remain at Wisconsin and continue shaping one of the nation’s premier college defenses.

That decision reinforced a belief held by many around the league.

Leonhard’s move to run an NFL defense has never been a question of if, but when.

The only variable has been whether he preferred to anchor his future in the college game or make the leap permanently to the professional ranks.

By joining Denver, Leonhard effectively answered that question.

His current role positions him as both a schematic leader and a broader organizational voice, accelerating his readiness for coordinator responsibilities.

Now, with the Cowboys seeking immediate defensive reform and the Broncos facing potential turnover atop their defensive hierarchy, Leonhard finds himself at a pivotal crossroads.

For Denver, the challenge may soon be retention rather than promotion.

For Dallas, Leonhard represents a chance to inject discipline and structure into a defense that unraveled spectacularly.

And for Leonhard himself, the moment appears to be approaching.

Whether his next step comes in Denver, Dallas, or elsewhere, the trajectory suggests that his ascent toward calling an NFL defense is no longer theoretical.

It is unfolding in real time.