In the previous season, the Wisconsin Badgers made a move that shocked many of their fans: they hired Luke Fickell to replace Jim Leonhard, a coach beloved by the entire Badgers Nation. While it was challenging to see Leonhard leave, the new Badgers coach, Luke Fickell, has performed admirably and surpassed expectations. Meanwhile, Leonhard has embarked on a new chapter in his coaching career in the NFL.
On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, the Denver Broncos officially announced hiring Jim Leonhard as their defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator. Leonhard took over from Christian Parker, the former coach who had moved on to become the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive backs coach.
Jim Leonhard is a household name in Wisconsin, renowned for his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career. An alum of the University of Wisconsin, Leonhard coached the Badgers from 2016 to 2022. He began as the defensive backs coach in 2016, served as the defensive coordinator in 2017, and was promoted to interim head coach in 2022. However, Leonhard departed Wisconsin in 2023 to become a senior football analyst at Illinois before returning to coaching in 2024 with the Denver Broncos.
