The Green Bay Packers are on the prowl for their next defensive coordinator. The Packers showed that their young offensive core can keep pace with the best teams in their conference. By the end of the season there may not have been a hotter offense in football.
In an attempt to put a complimentary football team together in 2024, the Packers have decided to make some major changes on the defensive side of the ball. However, according to one analyst, the Packers may have already eliminated one highly qualified candidate.
The Green Bay Packers May Not Even Offer The Defensive Coordinator Role To Highly Qualified Coach
This year, Barry came under heavy criticism after three seasons. He was ultimately terminated by LaFleur this week. The job is now open again, and Jim Leonhard is available following a coaching change at Wisconsin.
Leonhard being offered the DC job is an idea that has gained traction on social media.
Pete Dougherty, a Packers reporter with years of experience, doesn’t rule out the possibility, but also noted that it’s not that simple:
“I would think if LaFleur liked him enough to be ready to hire him three years ago, there’s good reason to think Leonhard would be a candidate this time, too,” Dougherty wrote in his mailbag this week. “On the other hand, LaFleur might not be interested after Leonhard basically turned him down last time – my understanding is, Leonhard wasn’t formally offered the job, but it was implied – and might be inclined to say, ‘Why would I want a guy who didn’t want to be here before?’”
Leonhard Could Stay In College In 2024
Missouri is the latest school to mention Leonhard as an outside candidate to replace former defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who left to take the same job at LSU this offseason.
The program is on the rise under head coach Eli Drinkwitz, who has led the team to 11 wins in the SEC this season. After working as an analyst at Illinois for a year, would Leonhard consider joining Missouri as defensive coordinator?
He and his family were able to regroup and plot their next move after the Wisconsin Badgers athletic department hired Luke Fickell instead of promoting Jim Leonhard from the interim role.
At some point, Leonhard figures to move to the NFL. However, aside from taking a few interviews over the years, he hasn’t shown serious interest in that level quite yet.