Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was about to get the same job with Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers, but his love of the Badgers football program and his desire to stay in Madison led him to turn down. offer Friday.
Leonhard spoke with Tom Oates and Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal about the process and why he finally decided to testify in Wisconsin.
“I was the one who chose UW,” Leonhard told Oates and Wilde. “I want to stay at UW. I want to be at that level right now. Very flattering. An awesome opportunity. But it wasn’t the right time to go back to the NFL. “
Leonhard, 38, was a defensive back in Wisconsin in 2001. He went on to be a three-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten before developing a 10-year career in the NFL. In 2016 he joined the Wisconsin coaching staff as a defensive coach and was promoted a year later to defensive coordinator.
His ties to Madison are strong, but Leonhard said he was “out the door,” and indicated how close he was to getting the Packers’ job, and even spoke to contracts with LaFleur. this week. The two met twice, once virtually and once in person, by Oates and Wilde.
Leonhard described himself as a “long throw” to let Madison into the process, but was intrigued by the opportunity to coordinate an NFL defense for a Super Bowl contender and went through the interview process. complete with LaFleur.
In the end, staying with Wisconsin and continuing to build and guide the Badgers football program while keeping his young family in Madison prevented Leonhard from making the move to the NFL.
“I know the NFL. I know the good, I know the bad, I’ve been in there for ten years. I understand what the NFL is. It’s exciting. Right now, I just feel like UW is the right place. I’m not saying it always will be. But right now this is where I want to be, at this level, with this group of children, ”said Leonhard.
Under Leonhard’s guidance over the past five years, Wisconsin’s defense ranks first in the nation in points, total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, completion percentage and third downward conversions. by Zach Heilprin.
Wisconsin only finished 4-3 during a 2020 pandemic season, but ended up with wins over Minnesota and Wake Forest.