The Dallas Cowboys are in search for a new defensive coordinator after firing Matt Eberflus following a season in which the team's defense derailed its playoff hopes.
When it comes to their past defensive coordinator hires, the Cowboys have a mold, which is bringing in coaches with defensive coordinator and/or head coach experience.
But Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon sees the Cowboys breaking that mold this time around with his prediction that Dallas will hire Denver Broncos defensive passing-game coordinator and assistant head coach, Jim Leonhard.
"The current Broncos defensive pass game coordinator is on the rise and would be a breath of fresh air for Dallas. Leonhard's track record at the college level and with Denver speaks for itself," Gagnon wrote.
"Assuming the Cowboys can't reel in Brian Flores (who is unlikely to make a lateral move from Minnesota), a change of pace like this makes a lot of sense," he added.
Leonhard to the Cowboys is a realistic possibility, as the team has already interviewed him during its search.
Leonhard spent 10 seasons in the NFL as a defensive back, playing for the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Broncos.
After hanging up his cleats, Leonhard went to coach at his alma mater, Wisconsin, where he served as just the defensive backs coach firstin 2016, and then as the defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator from 2017-2022.
Leonhard took his first NFL coaching job with the Broncos in 2024, becoming the defensive backs coach and passing-game coordinator. In 2025, Leonhard had the latter title removed but assistant head coach added.
Under Leonhard's watch as defensive backs coach, cornerback Patrick Surtain II won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, and the Broncos sported a top-10 pass defense in 2025, ranking seventh.
The latter stat should be of particular interest to a Cowboys defense that ranked dead-last against the pass last season.
While we're hesitant to believe Jerry Jones will break the mold with the team's next defensive coordinator, Leonhard remains a good fit and could help provide a boost to what is Dallas' biggest weakness on defense.
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