Report: Jim Leonhard, Philadelphia Eagles mutually decide to not move forward with candidacy
After Jim Leonhard interviewed for the vacant Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator job, the two sides decided it was not the right fit. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported it was not the right time for either side to make the partnership work.
Leonhard was set to undergo hip surgery, according to Fowler. That would have pushed the former interim Wisconsin head coach’s timeline back to resume work.
But, he and the Eagles had interest in making a job work. However, that won’t come to fruition.
“The Eagles and Jim Leonhard mutually decided they would not move forward with his DC candidacy, per league sources,” Fowler wrote on Twitter. “Leonhard had planned to undergo hip surgery and sit out coaching for a year, but when Eagles job opened, both sides had interest in discussing the position, which they did last week. Ultimately, they decided it wasn’t the right time.”
Jim Leonhard left the Wisconsin program after the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, he announced. Leonhard originally considered serving as the defensive coordinator but left Luke Fickell’s staff after releasing a statement.
“It has meant the world to me to be able to pour my heart and soul into the UW Football program over the last seven years,” Leonhard said. “After discussions with my family and Coach Fickell, I will remain the DC through the bowl game but no longer be part of the staff at the conclusion of the 2022 season. It has been an honor to coach these young men and thank you to all the fans who supported us along the way. On Wisconsin!”
Leonhard took over for Paul Chryst in the middle of the 2022 season and went 5-3 as interim head coach and won the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
After his playing career from 2005-14 in the NFL, Leonard rejoined his alma mater in 2016 as a defensive backs coach and rose up the ranks.
Former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon left Philadelphia right after the Super Bowl LVII loss and accepted the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job. The Eagles reportedly offered Gannon more than just “head coaching money” in an attempt to keep continuity on the staff.