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Originally, Raiders defensive line coach Rob Leonard had no intent to play football in college, he was set on golf.
In high school, Leonard originally played at Washington & Jefferson college where he posted an interception and 2 tackles as the Presidents went on to achieve a 12-1 record. From there, Leonard who was a cornerback, runningback, returner, holder, and just about anything else at Moon High School. After a year with Washington & Jefferson, Leonard decided he wanted to be close to his dad and decided to walk on at NC State in Raleigh, NC. While at NC State Leonard worked his way through the depth chart before eventually earning a scholarship in 2005. In 2006, he’d go on to be 2nd on the roster in special teams tackles. In 2007, the former walk on was the teams rotational free safety where he played in 12 games recording 20 tackles, a TFL, and a PBU. During his senior season in 2008, Leonard became the teams starting linebacker and led the team in tackles with 83 while also adding 6 TFL, a sack, an INT, and 4 PBU.
Leonard would graduate in 2009 and then join the prestigious Cardinal Gibbons high school staff as an assistant coach, in 2010 he returned to the Wolfpack as a grad assistant on defense. The team won 2 of 3 bowl games in his three seasons there and eventually the jump to the NFL happened for Leonard. In 2013, Leonard joined the New York Giants and Tom Coughlin as an assistant defensive coach. Leonard remained with the Giants as a defensive assistant all the way till 2016, where he transitioned to the teams assistant DL coach in 2017. Here in New York, Leonard got his start on defense. After working under Tom Coughlin for two seasons, Leonard got the opportunity to coach under potential future Hall of Famer and multi time super bowl winning defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Additionally, in 2016 Leonard would get the chance to work with now Raiders DC Patrick Graham, who was the Giants defensive line coach. Another coaching move came in 2017, Leonard shifted from the Asst. DL coach to an assistant OLB coach where he got the first taste at leading his own positional group. While working with Graham on the DL, Leonard saw Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon combine for 15 sacks, 17 TFL, and 25 QB Hits.
Following a 5-11 season, the Giants saw some turnover and one of these involved their defensive staff. Patrick Graham, who spent 2018 as the Packers LB coach, went south to take the Dolphins defensive coordinator job, and along with him came Leonard who joined the roster as a LB coach. In his first season coaching his own position, Leonard helped Dolphins LB Jerome Baker record 126 tackles, 3 TFL, an INT, 4 PBU, and 1.5 sacks. In addition, linebackers Raekwon McMillan, Vince Biegel, and Samuel Eguavoen combined for 173 tackles, 17 TFL, 6 sacks, INT, 4 PBU, and 2 FF. Additionally, Andrew Van Ginkel posted 15 tackles, 4 TFL, a sack, FF, and PBU in just 6 games, the Dolphins had found themselves a star. 2020 saw Patrick Graham depart back to New York where he returned as the teams defensive coordinator, in Miami the rising star of Josh Boyer stepped up, Boyer was a 3x super bowl winning coach with the Patriots and he brough in now Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile to lead the linebackers and college DL superstar coach Marion Hobby to be the DL coach. Leonard without a position, remained on staff as an assistant DL coach. After the success he had in 2019, it wasn’t long before Leonard had his own position back and in 2021 the Dolphins promoted him to OLB coach.
A small promotion, Leonard made the most of it. The Dolphins racked up 48 total sacks and finished 5th in the league. A large part of their success came from standout rookie Jaelan Phillips who logged 8.5 sacks and 9 TFL as a rookie. Additionally, Andrew Van Ginkel forced himself into a large role logging 71 tackles, 4 TFL, 9 TFL, 7 PBU, and an absurd 21 QB hits. Leonard also saw starting OLB Jerome Baker log 92 tackles, 9 TFL, an INT, 4 PBU, a FF, 5.5 sacks, and 15 QB hits while finishing inside the top 8 at his position for pro bowl voting. Leonard had worked his way up, and he finally made his presence felt as a position coach. After just one season as the Dolphins OLB coach, Leonard packed his things up and went to Baltimore where he took the same position with the Ravens. The Ravens logged 48 sacks in 2022, finishing 6th in the NFL while the Dolphins…. 19th. Jaelan Phillips saw his pass rush win rate drop by 4.5% and only log 7 sacks and 25 QB hits with 8 TFL. Jerome Baker struggled in coverage, Andrew Van Ginkel saw regression as well only logging 47 tackles, 3 TFL, and just 4 QB hits. Miami lacked juice at EDGE, they were worse in the run game, they got worse in their pass rush win rates, and in Baltimore things were great. Veteran Justin Houston posted 9.5 sacks, 7 TFL, and 19 QB hits after just 4.5 sacks in 2021. Vetern Jason Pierre-Paul joined the Ravens and logged 3 sacks, rookie Odafe Oweh another 3, with veterans Tyus Bowser (2) and 2nd year EDGE David Ojabo, who tore his Achilles the season before 1.5. The Ravens finished top 5 in pass rush win rate, pressure rate, sacks, and TFL. They were playing lights out run defense on the perimeter as well.
In March of 2023, Leonard decided to pack his family, and at the time two young children, up one more time to rejoin Patrick Graham in Las Vegas as the Raiders defensive line coach. The Raiders pass rush was abysmal in 2022 finishing 19th in sacks, 24th in pass rush win rate, and 23rd in pressure rate. They were 16th in run stop win rate, and struggled to contain on the outside. Superstar Maxx Crosby had 12.5 sacks alone, Chandler Jones just 4.5, and former 4th overall pick Clelin Ferrell 2. Las Vegas saw just 3 sacks from their entire interior defensive line. 2023 was a big year for Leonard, and of course the Raiders. In Baltimore while their sack count held high, the team saw a step back in their pressure rates and pass rush win rate with both falling into the mid teens. Odafe Oweh struggled to develop posting just 5 sacks, and David Ojabo only posted 1. Veterans Kyle Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney, not with the team in 2022 posted 9 but the young high draft picks couldn’t develop.
Meanwhile in Las Vegas, Maxx Crosby exploded onto the scene nearly winning DPOY after a 14.5 sack, 23 TFL (led the NFL), and 31 QB Hit season. Crosby also added 90 tackles, over 90 pressures, and a 21.5% win rate. He was elite. Opposite of him, a former 3rd rounder out of Buffalo, Malcolm Koonce also exploded onto the scene with 8 sacks, 9 TFL, 17 hits, and 52 pressures while winning 17.4% of his reps. Both added 3 FF, and the team was highly satisfied with what was arguably a top 5 pass rush duo. The Raiders also added 5 sacks from Adam Butler, surpassing their entire rooms total in 2022. Meanwhile, Butler went on to have career highs in TFL, QB hits, and win rate. Veteran NT John Jenkins had a career season at 34 years old setting career highs in stops, TFL, sacks, pressures, run stop win rate, pass rush win rate, and also logging a 44 yard FR TD. Journeyman Jerry Tillery has 2 sacks, rookie Tyree Wilson disappointed but also logged 3.5 sacks, 8 QB hits, and a 7.5% win rate off foot surgery. Las Vegas felt happy about their defensive line, it finished top 15 in pressures, top 10 in win rate, and they were 10th in sacks (the highest in almost a decade).
2024 was rough for the Raiders, Las Vegas kept interim HC Antonio Pierce as their full time coach where he went 4-13. The team struggled with injuries seeing Malcolm Koonce, bound for a big season, tear his ACL before week 1. Maxx Crosby got shut down after knee, shoulder, and hip injuries ending his season at just 12 games. Despite injuries to their top two pass rushers, Las Vegas still managed to record 38 sacks though they ranked 21st in the NFL. Their pass rush win rate dropped to 18th, and pressure rate to 16th but the defensive line had their moments. Former first rounder K’Lavon Chaisson signed after the Koonce injury and instantly rejuvenated his career. Chaisson posted 5 sacks, 7 TFL, 8 QB hits, an INT, and 2 FF. He finished with nearly 40 pressures and a 17% win rate. Chaisson became a fan favorite, he made highlight plays and started to look like the LSU superstar he was almost five years back. Additionally, Adam Butler continued to make strides, he had 5 sacks and 8 TFL again but also added 65 tackles. The most impressive part, Butler was one of just three DT to rank inside the top 10 for PRSH win rate and top 15 for RSTP win rate, he was an all around threat on the interior defensive line. Former Virginia standout Charles Snowden became a quality pass rusher with 1.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 7 QB hits, and a 11% win rate. Former 7th overall pick Tyree Wilson made leaps as a run stopper and his overall technique developed seeing him make small strides but still putting up 4.5 sacks, 27 tackles, 6 TFL, and 34 pressures with a 13% win rate. Wilson was coming into his own, and the team let Chaisson walk in free agency for a 1 year, 5.8M deal with the Patriots. Jonah Laulu, a 7th rounder from Oklahoma, who the Raiders claimed off waivers logged 1.5 sacks, 11 pressures, and finished inside the top 10 of all rookie IDL on run stops and pass rush win rate.
The Raiders needed to retain Leonard, he had shown not only was he a key coach for the develop of the defensive line, but players loved him. Players spoke out about his energy, leadership, and how smart he was. Maxx Crosby praised him numerous times, as did Adam Butler and former defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. The Raiders interviewed Leonard for their defensive coordinator position, and after hiring Patrick Graham back they retained Leonard as the DL coach but also giving him the role as run game coordinator. Leonard enjoys his new position, he’s able to take pressure of good friend Patrick Graham and due to his experiences in the past as an ILB coach and OLB coach Leonard understands how to defend the run both at the trench and second levels. Las Vegas invested in their defensive interior this off-season, they retained Adam Butler and drafted rookies JJ Pegues and Tonka Hemingway, both of which flashed in preseason. In weeks 2 and 3 both led rookie DL in pressures and win rate (Hemingway in week 3 led all NFL DL). They finished top 10 among rookie DL in pressures, win rate, and pressure rate both logging over a 20% pressure rate. UDFA Treven Ma’ae also finished highly ranking 2nd in pressure rate while Charles Snowden finished 12th in pressures among EDGE rushers. Coming off a torn ACL, Malcolm Koonce flashed with 1.5 sacks and a 18% win rate while Tyree Wilson also made strides having a sack, multiple run stops, 2 TFL, and a 16% win rate of his own. As a run defender, Wilson looked noticeably better too. The Raiders ILB, while not Leonard’s position, did look strong vs the run with veteran Jamal Adams playing well alongside Elandon Roberts and young ILBs Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg logging good snaps too.
It’s a big season for Rob Leonard, the former NC State standout linebacker is in position to possibly be the Raiders next defensive coordinator after Patrick Graham departs. Defensive line coaches don’t often make the role of defensive coordinator but if the Raiders DL and run defense looks strong there’s a chance Leonard steps into that role if he wants it. Leonard is experienced, but his hardest task is coming up. The Raiders front office, coaching staff, and fans are banking on Malcolm Koonce returning to form and while inexperienced the interior defensive line is going to be asked to do a lot. Las Vegas interior features four players in their third year or less, with two being rookies. Leonard has shown the ability to step up to the task before, and if the Raiders are going to perform to the standards they want this season it all starts in the trenches. An elite defensive line coach, Leonard develops his players at a great rate, he builds the fundamentals, works to design phenomenal stunt and blitz packages, but overall he’s a leader. The Raiders DL values him highly, the fans do too, he’s well spoken and has all the traits of a rising star in the NFL.
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