Report: Eagles Interview Former Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard

The long-time NFL safety is in the mix to replace Jonathan Gannon

The Eagles are casting a wide net that has moved to the college ranks when it comes to their vacant defensive coordinator position.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Philadelphia has interviewed former Wisconsin interim coach Jim Leonhard as a potential replacement for Jonathan Gannon, who left the organization after the Super Bowl LVII loss to Kansas City to become the new head coach in Arizona.

The #Eagles have interviewed former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as they look to fill their DC job, per league source. Leonhard was a 10-year NFL safety who is respected in league circles.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 20, 2023

Leonhard, 40, had a 10-year NFL career as a safety despite going undrafted out of Wisconsin before moving to the coaching ranks at his alma mater.

He started as the Badgers' defensive backs coach in 2016 before being promoted to DC/defensive backs for the past six seasons. When Wisconsin fired head coach Paul Chyrst in-season in 2022, Leonhard took over as interim coach and finished out the campaign with a 5-3 record, including a 24-17 win over Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

Wisconsin went on to hire Luke Fickell to be its new head coach for 2023 and Leonhard is currently a coaching free agent.

This is not the first time an NFL team has flashed interest in Leonhard. The Green Bay Packers reportedly tried to make him their DC for the 2021 season but Leonhard decided to stay in Madison.

The Eagles, meanwhile, made an effort to keep Gannon in the fold as the DC with a contract that would have paid him more than what the Cardinals offered, according to NBC's Petre King.

Gannon, however, wanted the opportunity to become a head coach and felt he couldn't pass up the opportunity with a team that has tremendous talent at the quarterback position in Kyler Murray.

Gannon also took former Eagles LB coach Nick Rallis with him to Arizona, making the 29-year-old the youngest DC in the NFL. Philadelphia also tried to keep Rallis in the fold, according to an NFL source, but there was no word on what position or salary bump was being offered.

As far as in-house candidates for a promotion with the Eagles, Rallis was considered No. 2 behind secondary coach Dennard Wilson, who remains one of the favorites to get the Eagles' DC job.

Other known outside candidates in the mix include Seattle associate head coach Sean Desai and former Cardinals DC Vance Joseph.

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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen