Wisconsin’s decision sent Jim Leonhard on a path to the Bills. His impact was profound

‘At 40 years old, Leonhard reached a crossroads. His alma mater did not choose him. He wasn’t ready to step into another full-time role as an assistant coach for a different college football program. After one year working at Illinois for his former boss at Wisconsin, Bret Bielema, Leonhard returned to the NFL as a defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator for the Denver Broncos. His impact eventually led him back to Buffalo as the architect of a Bills defense that needed someone to take advantage of the talented players drafted in recent years.’