It has been an interesting week with the NFL coaching carousel, especially concerning the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills.
The Bills, who were eliminated from the playoffs by the Broncos, have raided Sean Payton’s staff this week, coming away with two new coaches. First, they hired Pete Carmichael, a longtime assistant of Payton, to be their new offensive coordinator. They felt the Broncos also had the best candidate to be their new defensive coordinator as well, tabbing Jim Leonhard for that role.
Suddenly, the Broncos have some holes to fill on their coaching staff, though they have managed to keep defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and quarterbacks coach Davis Webb to this point. It is the expectation of many that Webb will be named the team’s new offensive coordinator.
What makes these moves interesting is the report that Payton was interested in hiring Joe Brady as his new offensive coordinator, perhaps even giving him play-calling duties. When the Bills promoted him as their new head coach, it set off a domino effect that has led to Brady plucking away two of Payton’s coaches.
Broncos lose Jim Leonhard to Bills
Leonhard, a former player, is a coach who is quickly rising in the ranks. The Broncos definitely wanted to keep him and if Joseph was hired as a head coach, which is beginning to look less and less likely, he probably would have been promoted as his replacement.
Even if that didn’t happen, the Broncos wanted to keep Leonhard in the fold to develop in their system the same way they want to keep Webb. Because of other moves teams around the league are making, the Broncos are having to adjust and speed up their plans a bit.
MORE: Broncos predicted to add playmaking piece to secondary in first round of 2026 draft
Leonhard began his 10-year playing career in Buffalo after going undrafted out of Wisconsin in 2005.
More Broncos Content
Broncos’ Garett Bolles, Quinn Meinerz officially have chance to become first-ever award winner
Broncos sign 4 more players to future deals, lose WR to AFC North team
Broncos would likely have no interest in predicted running back trade, even at low cost
Bo Nix-Sean Payton spat highlights why Broncos must promote Davis Webb
Broncos’ two huge offseason signings could already be on their way out
