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It's been a long time coming for Rob Leonard to take the reins of the Raiders defensive coordinator job. This offseason, after 13 years coaching the NFL, the past nine as a position coach, he was finally landed his first defensive coordinator job.
“I didn't press to climb the coaching ladder, it wasn't as important to me," said Leonard of his early years in coaching. "I was like, it'll happen when it's supposed to happen, but just make sure I'm ready, I'm prepared on philosophy, beliefs, installation, the whole nine. So, I just kind of let the NFL take place and I always felt like if I worked hard and did a good job at the job I had, it will lead to another opportunity rather than chasing something else. I can be a coordinator if I went here or there, and that stuff irritates me quite frankly. I'm a man of faith, and God willing, I was very blessed. A lot of things had to align for me to have this opportunity, so I'm very aware of that.”
Even more special than getting his first coordinator job is that it came as a promotion on the same team with which he has coached the past three seasons after surviving three previous staffs.
"I wish I could give you specific stories of that whole roller coaster over the past couple years, but yeah, I'm very grateful," Leonard continued. "This is where I wanted to be, like it's in me, it's in my heart to build this place right and see the Raiders win. And I mean, that would just mean a lot. I know it would mean a lot to the fans, the organization, but I felt like I was meant to do something - based on my experiences, it's kind of led me to help do something like this."
The Raiders brought Leonard in prior to the 2023 season under Josh McDaniels, retained him under Antonio Pierce, and again under Pete Carroll. Each time as the team's defensive line coach. He wanted to be in Las Vegas and the feeling was mutual. So, when new head coach Klint Kubiak came onboard as head coach, Leonard laid out exactly why he deserved the DC job and how he would implement his vision.
"Klint, he didn't say much, he just kind of let me let it rip and asked a few questions, and I just went in from like literally what I call personnel season in the offseason to OTAs, to training camp, to the season of how I would do it, and Spy [John Spytek] was in there, and it wasn't much conversation. I just kind of went through the interview, and he was taking notes, and I mean he asked some questions some really good ones I can't recall off the top of my head, but we were in there for quite a while."
With Kubiak being an offensive guy, the man calling the defense is considerably important. So, it's no small thing that Leonard is being entrusted to handle that job for this Raiders team in the early throes of a rebuild.
Leonard paid his dues, earned the trust of his players and GM, then his new head coach. It's a great story. The type where you root for the guy to succeed.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Rob Leonard details his rise to Raiders DC, interview with Klint Kubiak
Continue reading...
“I didn't press to climb the coaching ladder, it wasn't as important to me," said Leonard of his early years in coaching. "I was like, it'll happen when it's supposed to happen, but just make sure I'm ready, I'm prepared on philosophy, beliefs, installation, the whole nine. So, I just kind of let the NFL take place and I always felt like if I worked hard and did a good job at the job I had, it will lead to another opportunity rather than chasing something else. I can be a coordinator if I went here or there, and that stuff irritates me quite frankly. I'm a man of faith, and God willing, I was very blessed. A lot of things had to align for me to have this opportunity, so I'm very aware of that.”
Even more special than getting his first coordinator job is that it came as a promotion on the same team with which he has coached the past three seasons after surviving three previous staffs.
"I wish I could give you specific stories of that whole roller coaster over the past couple years, but yeah, I'm very grateful," Leonard continued. "This is where I wanted to be, like it's in me, it's in my heart to build this place right and see the Raiders win. And I mean, that would just mean a lot. I know it would mean a lot to the fans, the organization, but I felt like I was meant to do something - based on my experiences, it's kind of led me to help do something like this."
The Raiders brought Leonard in prior to the 2023 season under Josh McDaniels, retained him under Antonio Pierce, and again under Pete Carroll. Each time as the team's defensive line coach. He wanted to be in Las Vegas and the feeling was mutual. So, when new head coach Klint Kubiak came onboard as head coach, Leonard laid out exactly why he deserved the DC job and how he would implement his vision.
"Klint, he didn't say much, he just kind of let me let it rip and asked a few questions, and I just went in from like literally what I call personnel season in the offseason to OTAs, to training camp, to the season of how I would do it, and Spy [John Spytek] was in there, and it wasn't much conversation. I just kind of went through the interview, and he was taking notes, and I mean he asked some questions some really good ones I can't recall off the top of my head, but we were in there for quite a while."
With Kubiak being an offensive guy, the man calling the defense is considerably important. So, it's no small thing that Leonard is being entrusted to handle that job for this Raiders team in the early throes of a rebuild.
Leonard paid his dues, earned the trust of his players and GM, then his new head coach. It's a great story. The type where you root for the guy to succeed.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Rob Leonard details his rise to Raiders DC, interview with Klint Kubiak
Continue reading...
