Former Kentucky assistant Derrick LeBlanc lands DL coach gig with Arizona Cardinals
The coaching carousel has not stopped spinning. After the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts made the final head coach hires in the NFL cycle following the Super Bowl, it’s now time for all 32 franchises to fill out their coaching staffs.
A former Kentucky assistant has landed a big gig. Derrick LeBlanc will be on Jonathan Gannon’s first staff in Arizona which will also include two former Florida assistants who spent just one year on Billy Napier’s staff in Gainesville.
A Northwestern State alum who hails from Louisiana, LeBlanc spent three seasons in Lexington (2017-19) coaching the defensive line under defensive coordinators Matt House and Brad White. During his watch, LeBlanc helped develop Calvin Taylor Jr. into an All-SEC performer in 2019 that recorded 8.5 sacks. Both Quinton Bohanna and Phil Hoskins were players under LeBlanc at UK that went on to be NFL Draft selections.
After departing Lexington, LeBlanc spent one season at Arkansas on Sam Pittman’s first staff in Fayetteville. The defensive line coach was a one-and-done in the SEC West before joining Mike McDaniel’s first staff with the Miami Dolphins. After being an assistant defensive line coach for a Miami team that made the playoffs, LeBlanc is on the move again.
The former Kentucky assistant will now be in the NFC West as the Cardinals have some rebuilding to do. However, there is a chance that Arizona could take Jalen Carter early in the first round. That could give LeBlanc a blue-chip player to build around.
After Derrick Ansley was promoted to defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers, another former staffer under Stoops at Kentucky is getting a promotion in the NFL.
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