HENDERSON, Nev. — Rob Leonard has moved from overseeing a single position group to coordinating the entire Las Vegas defense after being promoted from defensive line coach in 2023. As a coordinator, he now rotates between the defensive line and defensive backs during individual drills and has spent extensive time building a scheme informed by his work with coaches such as Mike Macdonald, Brian Flores and Steve Spagnuolo.
Leonard said the transition has demanded more work but has been rewarding after a long run as a defensive assistant that began at Cardinal Gibbons High School (N.C.) in 2009. “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s humbling,” Leonard said. He spent six seasons with the New York Giants, including three under Spagnuolo, coached linebackers and served as an assistant defensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2019-21, and was an outside linebackers coach with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 before joining the Raiders.
The Raiders have kept many specifics of the defense under wraps, but practices during OTAs and mandatory minicamp showed a unit that will prioritize versatility and an aggressive approach consistent with Leonard’s personality. “It is great, because it’s trying to keep an advantage,” Leonard said. He added he wants a “player-led defense” that understands concepts and can be multiple by recognizing strengths and weaknesses of calls.
Leonard was hired by Klint Kubiak after general manager John Spytek and defensive backs coach Joe Woods, who had previous working relationships with Kubiak, recommended him. Kubiak said he was impressed by Leonard’s knowledge and relationships in the building. “He had a plan. He knew what he wanted to do. …And it just revealed itself to me that he was the right guy for the job,” Kubiak said.
The coaching change also brings a schematic shift: Leonard plans to move the Raiders toward a 3-4 base defense after the staff ran a 4-3 under former coordinator Patrick Graham. Leonard said the adjustment will not be dramatic on technique because he plans to rotate players frequently. The team finished 25th in points allowed (25.4) and 14th in yards allowed (317.8), and opponents converted 46.3% of third-down attempts last season, according to the article.
