Head coach Klint Kubiak has zeroed in on his new defensive coordinator. The Las Vegas Raiders are finalizing a deal to promote run game coordinator/defensive line coach Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator, per NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Overview
Rob Leonard has 16 years of coaching experience, including 13 seasons coaching in the NFL. Throughout his career, he has worked under several brilliant defensive minds, including Steve Spagnuolo, Brian Flores, Mike Macdonald, and Patrick Graham.
Coach Leonard has been with the Raiders since 2023. During his time with the franchise, Leonard quickly earned the respect of the locker room, most notably from team captain Maxx Crosby. “He challenges us every day,” Crosby said in June of 2024. “He coaches people different, but he doesn’t shy away from coaching. Nowadays there’s a lot of guys that feel like they are too big to be coached and things like that, and it’s my way or no way. Rob is a guy that can relate to us.”
Maxx Crosby’s future with the team remains uncertain. However, the promotion of coach Rob Leonard may convince the star pass rusher to stay with the Silver and Black.
–Follow Dan Loya on X @DLoya_NFL
