Jim Leonhard Turns Down Green Bay Packers DC Job

Jim Leonhard is staying with the Wisconsin Badgers!!!! Yes, I’m very happy about it if you couldn’t tell!

Leonhard talked with Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur via zoom on Tuesday and in person on Thursday about the open defensive coordinator position. Which is ironic because Leonhard played for Pettine in the NFL, who the Packers chose to not renew his contract, and their styles are somewhat similar.

Friday night, Leonhard turned down the job.

“It was me choosing UW. I want to stay at UW. 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,” Leonhard said.

Being from Wisconsin, Leonhard was naturally attracted to the open vacancy on the Packers staff. But he was an All-American with the Badgers and has a ton of loyalty to the school. He’s had several interest and offers from both pro and college teams in every offseason, but has continued to state that he’d only leave for the right job.

This morning Leonhard said: “It was very real. I was about out the door.”

Time to run it back for UW!