Former Badger defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jim Leonhard interviewed for the Philadelphia Eagles’ vacant defensive coordinator position.
Leonhard spent his collegiate career as a Wisconsin Badger before moving to the NFL in 2005. He put together a 10-year stint in the league at safety before retiring in 2014.
After his playing career was over, Leonhard returned to Madison in 2016 as a defensive assistant under Paul Chryst before working his way up to defensive coordinator in 2017.
Finally, after Chryst was fired in October, Leonhard took over the reigns of the Badgers’ program, leading the team to a 5-3 record, including a Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory over Oklahoma State.
Now with Luke Fickell as head coach for Wisconsin, Leonhard has opted to move on to another opportunity elsewhere, with many speculating that he will make the leap to the NFL.
The Eagles lost to the Chiefs, 38-35, in Super Bowl LVII and their defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was hired as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, leaving an open space Leonhard could fill under Nick Sirianni.
The #Eagles have interviewed former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as they look to fill their DC job, per league source. Leonhard was a 10-year NFL safety who is respected in league circles.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 20, 2023
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