By Nelson EspinalShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens both fired their longtime coaches and hired first-time head coaches. As they build new coaching staffs, they will be competing for a highly coveted assistant coach.
Denver Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard has been one of the more buzzworthy names in coaching circles over the past month, interviewing for multiple defensive coordinator openings.
While many of those openings have been filled, two prominent ones remain in Buffalo and Baltimore, according to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz and John Talty.
"The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills both have interest in Denver Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard. He was previously also in the mix and interviewed for the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator that ultimately went to Chris O'Leary," the story read.
...The Ravens hired former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as their new head coach, replacing John Harbaugh, who was let go by the organization.
Minter has already been unveiled and said he will call the defensive plays, which would reduce Leonhard's control compared to his role on the Bills.
The Bills opted to promote offensive coordinator Joe Brady, replacing former coach Sean McDermott, who oversaw the defense and delegated the offense to his coaching staff.
Brady will likely represent the opposite of Sean McDermott, meaning someone will need to come in as the defensive play-caller, allowing Leonhard to step into the role and have full control.
Leonhard interviewed with the Ravens on Friday for the defensive position coordinator job, though an interview with the Bills has not been scheduled.
Why did the Bills and Ravens fire their coaches?
The Bills and Ravens both fired their coaches after disappointing seasons. The Bills failed to beat the Denver Broncos and make it past the Divisional Round during a season when there was no Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, or Patrick Mahomes in the field.
The Ravens did not even make the playoffs, falling short in their final game after an injury to Jackson kept him out for a while and limited the team. However, this was not a one-off but rather a string of disappointing seasons under Harbaugh that forced the team to make a drastic change.
Time will tell if both moves were the right ones, though adding a coach like Leonhard should increase the likelihood of success.
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