The Chargers on Wednesday confirmed they have interviewed Jim Leonhard for their defensive coordinator position.
Bookmark the Chargers Defensive Coordinator Candidate Tracker for the latest news.
Here are five things to know about Leonhard:
1. Pair of seasons in Denver
Leonhard has spent the last two seasons at his first NFL coaching job.
The 43-year-old coach spent the 2025 season as the Broncos Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Pass Game Coordinator. He was also Denver's Defensive Pass Game Coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2024, his first year coaching in the pros.
The Broncos pass defense has found success with Leonhard in the mix, ranking in the top 10 in yards allowed per pass play both seasons with him in the position, including No. 1 this past season.
Under Leonhard, Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II became the second player in franchise history to be named the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year.
2. Longtime NFL safety
Although this was Leonhard's first NFL coaching opportunity, he has a long history in the league as a player.
The former safety went undrafted following the 2005 NFL Draft but worked to make the Bills 53-man roster. He then played three seasons in Buffalo.
Leonhard parlayed that into a 10-year NFL playing career, playing games for five different teams before retiring after the 2014 season.
He finished his career playing in 142 games (73 starts), racking up 431 total tackles, 35 passes defensed, 14 interceptions and 4.5 sacks.
3. Wisconsin product
Leonhard earned his way onto Wisconsin's football roster in a similar fashion to his NFL playing career.
The safety was a walk-on for the Badgers and would go on to play four years for the football team, earning three First-Team All-America and First-Team All-Big Ten honors over his collegiate career.
He played in all 51 games (39 starts) with Wisconsin, tying the program record with 21 interceptions and breaking the Big Ten record for career punt return yards at the time with 1,347 yards on 105 returns (12.8 avg.).
He was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
4. Leading his alma mater
Following his playing career, Leonhard took on coaching at his alma mater.
He took his first job as the defensive backs coach at Wisconsin in 2016 before taking over as the defensive coordinator for the six seasons after that.
Leonhard's defenses with him at the helm stacked up with the rest of the country.
Wisconsin ranked first among all Power-5 teams in first downs per game (15.4), third-down percentage (30.8) and yards per game (288.0) over his six seasons as their coordinator.
They were also third in takeaways and interceptions, as their 17.9 points allowed per game was fifth during that timeframe.
He spent seven games of the 2022 season, his final with the school, as the Badger's interim head coach, leading the team to a 4-3 record.
5. Another college stop
Leonhard's coaching career has featured one stop that wasn't Denver or his alma mater.
Following his time with the Badgers, Leonhard spent 2023 as a senior football analyst for the University of Illinois.
