If you were living under a rock this weekend, Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was considered the favorite to land the same role with the Green Bay Packers.
It was even noted that the job “was his if he wanted it.”
Update on the Packers DC search with #Badgers Jim Leonhard as a candidate, per @TomSilverstein:
"Numerous sources around the NFL, including associates of some of the candidates, are convinced it is Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s job if he wants it." https://t.co/K5hCPzJABR
— George Balekji (@GeorgeBalekji) February 6, 2021
Well, Leonhard ended up turning the job down, noting that the decision was him choosing Wisconsin as opposed to not being thrilled with Green Bay.
“I want to stay at UW,” Leonhard said. “I want to be at this level right now. Extremely flattered. Awesome opportunity. But it was not the right time for me to go back to the NFL.”
Related: The best Twitter reaction from Jim Leonhard turning down the Packers’ DC job
We can talk about that and whether he will eventually succeed Paul Chryst as head coach all we want, though today I want to turn attention to his comments from a few months ago because they ring even more true today.
It was December 23 and the Badgers had just come off an overtime victory over rival Minnesota.
The coach was asked about Wisconsin’s culture and, as he is every offseason, about whether he will entertain job offers. NBC15’s George Balekji had the video:
#Badgers Jim Leonhard earlier today when asked about the culture at Wisconsin and the impact it has on him while being approached for coaching jobs elsewhere.
"There is a comfort level here understanding what this place is about and how I'm allowed to coach and act and recruit." pic.twitter.com/tenIXj2jAv
— George Balekji (@GeorgeBalekji) December 23, 2020
“I understand what UW is all about,” Leonhard said. “It’s home for myself…This was the dream job to come back and coach. Also being on a lot of teams, you just realize the culture is different every single place. Not bad, but different. There is a comfort level here understanding what this place is about and how I’m allowed to coach and act and recruit.”
There are no doubt a lot of factors that played a role in his decision to stay at Wisconsin, but his words during the season ring even more true after we saw with our own eyes what coaching the defense here means to him—that obviously being him turning down an amazing opportunity with the Packers.
The NFL will always be there for the young defensive coordinator. But keep this past week in mind in the coming offseasons because unlike other coordinators at other schools, Jim Leonhard is a Wisconsin guy through and through.
The Badger football program could not be in a better place on the defensive side of the football moving forward.
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