Jim Leonhard

Jim Leonhard

Leohnard with the Broncos in 2012
Wisconsin Badgers
Position:	Defensive coordinator / Defensive backs
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1982-10-27) October 27, 1982 (age 34)
Place of birth:	Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Height:	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:	188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:	Tony (WI) Flambeau
College:	Wisconsin
Undrafted:	2005
Career history
As player:
Buffalo Bills (2005–2007) Baltimore Ravens (2008) New York Jets (2009−2011) Denver Broncos (2012) New Orleans Saints (2013)* Buffalo Bills (2013) Cleveland Browns (2014)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As coach:
Wisconsin (2016) Defensive backs coach Wisconsin (2017-present) Defensive coordinator / defensive backs
Career highlights and awards
3× First Team All-Big Ten (2002-2004) CNN/SI All-American (2002)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 429 Quarterback sacks: 4.5 Pass deflections: 36 Interceptions: 14 Forced fumbles: 2 Total Return yards: 1,277 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

James Andrew "Jim" Leonhard (born October 27, 1982) is the defensive coordinator of the Wisconsin Badgers football team. He is a former American football safety who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

Leonhard was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2005 after playing college football at the University of Wisconsin. Leonhard also played for the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and Cleveland Browns.

In February, 2016 Leonhard was named the defensive backs coach at the University of Wisconsin. In February, 2017 Leonhard was named the defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin.

Leonhard played high school football at Flambeau High School in Tony, Wisconsin where he was the starting quarterback and strong safety. During his freshman year, 1997, the Flambeau Falcons won the Wisconsin state championship in football in division six over River Ridge high school. Leonhard was a team captain in his junior and senior seasons, the same seasons in which he was a first team All-State performer. He was also named team MVP in his senior year.

Leonhard was a walk-on football player at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, having received no Division 1-A scholarship offers out of high school. He was not awarded a scholarship until his senior year, despite the fact that he had been a regular starting safety before that season and had already been named All-Big Ten twice. Noted for his speed, leaping ability, and sure tackling, he totaled 21 interceptions (tied with Jamar Fletcher for the most in school history) and made 281 tackles. He held the Big Ten Conference career punt return yardage record with 1,347 yards until Michigan's Steve Breaston eclipsed his mark in 2006.