Jim Leonhard a Popular Name for Open Green Bay Packers Position

If you follow the Wisconsin Badgers, you likely follow the Green Bay Packers. Or at least the issues surrounding their now-former defensive coordinator, Joe Barry. Now that Barry has been fired from his position, the names for potential replacements are flooding social media, and there is one name that is consistently coming up and at or near the top of everyone’s list: Jim Leonhard.

Since leaving the Badgers last year, Leonhard took a position with the Illinois Fighting Illini as an analyst until his next coaching opportunity, of which there will be many, comes around.

Jim Leonhard is a Hot Name for the Packers’ DC Position

So far there isn’t any smoke, but the Wisconsin football legend’s name has come up repeatedly for the open position with the Green Bay Packers.

It isn’t just fans bringing up Leonhard’s name because they think it would be cool for him to be the defensive coordinator for their favorite NFL team, either.

Packers writers, bloggers, and other knowledgeable NFL personalities are listing his name regarding the opening.

Peter Bukowski, writer of The Leap newsletter and host of Locked on Packers:

Jim Leonhard
Jesse Minter
Glenn Schumann
Al Harris

I want a young team taking a shot on a young DC with some fresh ideas. https://t.co/JT2R9e3hsA

— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) January 22, 2024

Bukowski followed up that tweet with another that would point to Leonhard as a real possibility for the Packers’ open position.

Just spoke to a league source with ties to the #Packers who suggested the best path for the team would be focus on a passing-game DC.

Someone with a background in secondary play to maximize this talented CB room.

Then let the terrific pass rush go hunt.

— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) January 24, 2024

Andy Herman, creator/host of Pack-a-Day Podcast and writer at Packer Report:

My list of DC candidates (not in order, not neccesarily my preferences):

1. Jim Leonhard
2. Ejiro Evero (if he becomes available)
3. Mike Zimmer
4. Brandon Staley
5. Al Harris
6. Rex Ryan
7. Marquad Manuel
8. Jesse Minter
9. Wink Martindale
10. Chris Hewitt
11. Chris Harris
12.…

— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) January 24, 2024

Dan Olovsky, former NFL quarterback and NFL analyst on ESPN:

Packers DC

Jim Leonhard
Rex Ryan
Jess Minter
Anthony Weaver

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 24, 2024

This is all very preliminary and there is no real concrete evidence that Jim Leonhard will get the job or is even being considered. But he interviewed for the same position three years ago and was reportedly offered the job before he ultimately turned it down to stay at Wisconsin. Joe Barry eventually got the job.

For a lot of Wisconsin Badgers fans, Jim Leonhard is an exciting choice. Plenty of fans were upset he was passed over for the Wisconsin football head coaching job and were sad to see him leave the program entirely.

His ending up as the defensive coordinator for the Packers would be a great way to keep him as a coach for one of their favorite teams.

Other fans, however, don’t want Leonhard to get the job. Not because they think he’d do a bad job, but they don’t want Packers fans calling for his job if things do not necessarily go to plan as they did with Joe Barry. They don’t want Leonhard’s name and reputation to be brought down if he isn’t the answer.

Leonhard’s name seemingly comes up every year around this time. Usually, it’s about potential coaching jobs at the college level, but many think Leonhard is ready and wants to go to the NFL, rather than stay in the college ranks.

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