The Denver Broncos have either lost or fired five coaches within the last week following a disappointing loss in the AFC championship game.
After a slew of firings by the Denver Broncos, the organization has lost two more coaches.
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly hiring defensive passing game coordinator and assistant head coach Jim Leonhard to be the team’s next defensive coordinator, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Leonhard was highly coveted during this hiring cycle and several teams in need of a defensive coordinator had been waiting to interview the 43-year-old since the Broncos lost in the American Football Conference championship game last week.
Leonhard isn’t the first Broncos coach to be poached by the Bills this offseason; Buffalo also hired senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael Jr. to be the team’s next offensive coordinator Friday. In a matter of days, Denver has lost Leonhard, Carmichael, OC Joe Lombardi, wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch.
Carmichael gets a lot of credit for the early development of second-year quarterback Bo Nix and offensive turnaround in 2024, his first season with Denver. He contributed to a large increase in total touchdowns (38 in 2023 to 47), points per game (21 to 25) and third-down conversions. From 2024 to 2025, the Broncos increased their total yards per game from 324.6 (19th) to 342.6 (10th).
It’s no secret that the Broncos have had one of the best defensive units in the National Football League over the past few years. Leonhard deserves a lot of credit for what he has done in the two seasons he spent with Denver.
With the help of Leonhard and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Denver was first in sacks (68), second in total yards allowed per game (278.2), third in points allowed per game (18.3), sixth in passer rating allowed (78.7) and seventh in passing yards allowed per game (187.2) in 2025.
Over the last two seasons, the Broncos had 25 interceptions (10 in 2025) and have been known to have a stingy secondary. The secondary has been so good that numerous players have been selected to the Pro Bowl, named to the Associated Press All-Pro teams and star cornerback Pat Surtain II was even named the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
Leonhard was initially the defensive backs coach as well as defensive passing game coordinator when he was hired in 2024. After doing such a great job in his first year with the organization, he was promoted to assistant head coach and served as a right-hand man to Head Coach Sean Payton.
Denver has had a rough couple of weeks; Nix fractured his ankle on the second-to-last play of the team’s divisional round win over the Bills, the team lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots in the title game, the Coach Payton and Nix injury drama, firings and now two of their most important coaches have gotten promoted elsewhere.
Knowing Payton and General Manager George Paton, they will find worthy replacements, but their offseason is already off to a weird start.