Role: Defensive Coordinator
Previous Role: Defensive line Coach & Run Game Coordinator
Previous Team: Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have hired defensive coordinator Rob Leonard as their next defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Leonard has been with the Raiders since 2023 and has served as the teams defensive line coach and run game coordinator. Leonard, just 38 years old originally started his football journey as a walk-on linebacker with NC state including his 2008 season with 83 tackles, 6 TFL, an interception, and was named All-ACC.
After his time with NC State, Leonard bounced around a few college jobs before landing his first NFL gig in 2013 with the New York Giants as a quality defensive coach in 2013-2015. In 2016, Leonard was promoted to an assistant linebackers coach before transitioning to the assistant DL coach in 2017 and back to linebackers in 2018. Leonard got his first start as LB coach in 2019, before transitioning to the Dolphins OLB coach in 2020 where he was till 2021. The Ravens hired Leonard as their OLB coach in 2022 before the Raiders hired him as their defensive line coach in 2023. He served as the team’s defensive line coach in 2023 and 2024 before having the title of run game coordinator added in 2025.
Miami Dolphins (2019-2021)
In his first season as the Dolphins LB coach, Leonard saw Jerome Baker post 126 tackles, 3 TFL, 1.5 sacks, an interception, 4 breakups, and 2 FF. Additionally, linebackers Raekwon McMillan and Vince Biegel both logged over 60 tackles and 4 TFL with Biegel also adding 2.5 sacks and 3 PBU. In 2019, the Dolphins defense ranked 27th in run defense. The Dolphins promoted Leonard to their DL coach in 2020, which saw their unit rank 10th in sacks, 7th in QB hits, and 10th in pressure rate. EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah posted 9 sacks, 6 TFL, 21 QB hits, and 64 pressures while other EDGE rushers Kyle Van Noy and Andrew Van Ginkel both logged over 50 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 FF, and a combined 27 TFL’s and 24 QB hits. The Dolphins also saw Shaw Lawson post 4 sacks, and 18 QB hits, Christian Wilkins 1.5 sacks, and Zach Sieler 5.5 sacks. The Dolphins overall saw five defensive lineman with over 45 pressures including 3 north of 60.
In 2021, the Dolphins ranked 6th in sacks, 3rd in pressure rate, 5th in QB hits, and 2nd in pass rush win rate. The Dolphins had five defensive lineman post over 45 pressures and again, three north of 55. Rookie pass rusher Jaelan Phillips logged 8.5 sacks, 9 TFL, and 17 QB hits while Emmanuel Ogbah led the team again with 9.5 sacks, 9 TFL, 27 QB hits, and 14 PBU. Christian Wilkins broke out with 4.5 sacks, 10 TFL, and 13 QB Hits while Andrew Van Ginkel logged 4 sacks, 72 tackles, 11 TFL, and 23 QB hits. The Dolphins also saw Zach Sieler, Adam butler, and Jerome Baker log north of 5 sacks with Baker posting his third straight 100 tackle, 8+ TFL, and 4.5+ sack season. In all three of his seasons with the Dolphins, Leonard saw his DL/OLB core rank top 10 in run stop win rate, stuff rate, and pass rush HAVOC rate.
After joining the Ravens in 2022, Leonard worked under now Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald, and his pass rush ranked 6th in sacks, 13th in QB hits, 18th in pressure rate, and 13th in pass rush win rate. The Ravens saw veteran Justin Houston post 10 sacks with defensive tackles Nnamdi Maduibuike and Calais Campbell combining for 11 sacks, 12 TFL, 21 QB hits, and 4 FF. Additionally, veteran Jason Pierre-Paul posted 3 sacks and 5 TFL while 2nd year pass rusher Odafe Oweh logged 3 sacks, 7 TFL, 14 QB hits and 37 pressures. The Ravens also got production from Broderick Washington Jr, Travis Jones, David Ojabo, and Brent Urban with their pass rush unit. The Ravens DL ranked 5th in the NFL in TFL’s and 4th in run stop win rate while also ranking 6th in stuff rate.
Las Vegas Raiders (2023-2025)
In his first season with the Raiders defensive line, Leonard’s unit ranked 12th in sacks, 17th in pressure rate, and 18th in QB hits. Additionally, the team ranked 14th in pass rush win rate, 6th in run stop win rate, 8th in run stuff rate, and 11th in HAVOC rate. Las Vegas was led by Maxx Crosby with 14.5 sacks and 23 TFL with 32 QB hits and he finished 3rd in DPOY voting. Additionally, Malcolm Koonce posted 8 sacks, 9 TFL, and 18 QB hits, with 3 forced fumbles. Adam Butler posted 5 sacks and a career high 45 pressures with 8 TFL, and 9 QB hits. The Raiders also saw Tyree Wilson post 3.5 sacks, 2 TFL, and 9 QB hits with Jerry Tillery, Bilal Nichols, and John Jenkins combining for 5.5 sacks, 10 TFL, and 11 QB hits while Jenkins posted career highs in every statistical category.
2024 saw the Raiders pass rush was 18th in sacks, 19th in pressure rate, 12th in pass rush win rate, 14th in QB hits, 8th in run stop win rate, 9th in stuff rate, and 11th in HAVOC rate. Maxx Crosby missed 5 games but posted 7.5 sacks, 17 TFL, and 21 QB hits. Adam Butler logged 5 sacks, 8 TFL, and 11 QB hits while K’Lavon Chaisson saw a career revival with 5 sacks, 7 TFL, 9 QB hits, and an interception. Additionally Tyree Wilson logged 4.5 sacks and 10 QB hits. The Raiders saw Charles Snowden posted 2 sacks, 2 TFL, and 8 QB hits. The Raiders had 3 players log north of 40 pressures.
2025 saw Las Vegas rank 21st in pressure rate, 16th in QB hits, 15th in sacks, and 14th in pass rush win rate. Additionally, in his first season as Raiders run game coordinator the Raiders ranked 5th in EPA/rush, 6th in yards/attempt allowed, 1st in TFL’s, 6th in DVOA, 2nd in stuff rate, and 6th in run stop win rate. Las Vegas was again led by Maxx Crosby with 10 sacks, 28 TFL, and 24 QB hits. Malcolm Koonce, coming off a torn ACL, posted 4.5 sacks with 14 QB hits, and Jonah Laulu saw a breakout season with 4 sacks, 8 TFL, and 9 QB hits. Additionally, rookie Tonka Hemingway had 4 sacks, 5 TFL, and 9 QB hits with 17 pressures. Las Vegas saw four defenders north of 35 pressures and Charles Snowden continued his development with 3.5 sacks, an interception, 3 PBU, 5 TFL, and 9 QB hits.
Leonard worked with a variety of coaches, most notably Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Additionally, Leonard has experience working under other defensive minds Patrick Graham, Pete Carroll, Steve Spagnolu, Marion Hobby, and Lou Anaromou. The Raiders defensive coordinator hasn’t explained his overall system, but he’s preached three things over his time in the NFL. Aggression, downhill attack, and versatility have been the largest factors for Leonard through his NFL career, and the Raiders defensive coordinator comes from two top defensive minds that focus on that form of defense. Leonard’s history as a LB coach and linebacker should give him the ability to mix coverages, emphasize the run, and create extreme disruption up front. Leonard has experience working as a high level run defense defensive line coach, and his pass rush units have fared extremely well. Las Vegas hasn’t put a ton of effort to the defensive line since Leonard’s hiring using a 1st, 3rd, 7th, 4th, and 6th round selections on the defensive line though their third rounder turned out to be the wrong Byron Young. Additionally, Las Vegas’ high spending free agent signing has been out of the NFL for a year due to injury and off-field issues.
Players to Watch, Connections:
Leonard has a history working with a few pass rushers slated to hit the open market this off-season, primarily Eagles star Jaelan Phillips who Leonard drafted in Miami along with Chargers pass rusher Odafe Oweh. Oweh has 50+ pressures in four of his five NFL seasons and back to back years with north of 10 sacks. In his career, Oweh has posted 255 pressures, 35 sacks, and 77 QB hits. Additionally, Phillips has logged 70+ pressures in two of his five seasons though he missed most of 2024 due to injury. In his two other seasons, Phillips has 30+ pressures and a career 35 sacks, 62 hits, and has been a high end run defender. Additionally, veteran K’Lavon Chaisson who saw a career year under Leonard and now continued success in New England is also set to hit the market, while Zach Seiler has been a potential trade option with Miami. Linebacker Germaine Pratt, who spent part of 2025 with the Raiders, is close with Leonard and could return to Las Vegas.
