Rob Leonard to be Raiders DC

[BoKnows81]

[Dr Death]

I have no problem with this. I would have liked to get Schwartz, but Leonard will do fine, IMO.

[ALLRAIDERWORLD21]

Just seems like the D line sucked except for the top 5 DE in the NFL we have. Wilson, Koonce were garbage. I’m not saying it’s a horrible signing, just seems mediocre. Hopefully he’s a stud.

I credit Leonard for revitalizing Chaisson’s career..

[BG3428]

Not really. But to be honest with squad we have it's hard to tell what's coaching and what's player talent.

This. Plus the roster turnover year after year and letting our best players walk to save money we don’t even spend.
Can’t wait to see how the unit performs if we can sign some key FAs and have a couple of solid drafts.
I’m excited to see a young team and staff grow together.

[CWood24]

This interested me because it shows that our DL whilst not lights out with certain things has alot that can be built upon & that Leonard might be an underrated choice

[BoKnows81]

I'm indifferent on the hire. Don't love it, don't hate it. I just know that the DC was an important hire since Kubiak will run the offense. Am I concerned Leonard has no experience as a DC? Yes. Am I willing to give him a chance? Yes. He fits in with the youth direction the team is going.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Via ChatGPT…

Coaching Background

Rob Leonard has steadily worked his way up the coaching ranks over the past 15+ years:

Early & College Coaching
• Began coaching in 2009 as a defensive assistant at Cardinal Gibbons High School in North Carolina.
• Spent 2010–2012 as a graduate assistant at North Carolina State University, working with defensive players and the defensive playbook.

NFL Coaching Journey
• 2013–2018: Hired by the New York Giants as a defensive assistant and later served as assistant defensive line and assistant linebackers coach. 
• 2019–2021: With the Miami Dolphins, Leonard coached linebackers, was assistant defensive line coach, and then outside linebackers coach. 
• 2022: Served as outside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens under head coach John Harbaugh. 
• 2023–2025: Joined the Raiders as defensive line coach; added the role of run game coordinator in 2025. 
• 2026: Promoted to Defensive Coordinator under new head coach Klint Kubiak. 

Throughout his career he’s worked in multiple defensive position roles — defensive line, linebackers and run defense — giving him a broad foundation on the defensive side of the ball.

Coaching & Defensive Philosophy

Leonard has not previously been an NFL defensive coordinator, so there’s no established “Leonard scheme” publicly yet. However, insights from coaching reports and interviews suggest key aspects of how he thinks about coaching and defense:

Player-Focused Teaching
• As Raiders defensive line coach, Leonard emphasized meeting players where they are in terms of development and progression — tailoring instruction to individual improvement and clarity. 
• He stressed culture and standards — high expectations regardless of a player’s experience — and used film study extensively to make teaching concrete (“black and white”) for his players. 
• Leonard’s approach combined accountability and support, giving honest feedback while helping players visualize what they need to improve. 

Emphasis on Fundamentals
• His role as run game coordinator highlights a focus on controlling the line of scrimmage and defending the run — a key building block of effective defenses. In 2025, the Raiders were middle-of-the-pack in run defense under his guidance. 
• His background coaching outside linebackers and defensive line suggests a comfort with front-seven play, rush edges, pressure creation, and tackling fundamentals. 

Relationships & Culture
• Leonard has been noted for building strong rapport with players, particularly defensive stars like Maxx Crosby, which can be important in establishing buy-in for a new system. 
• Coaches and teammates have praised his energy, transparency, and leadership, traits that often translate into a philosophy centered on effort, discipline, and personal accountability. 

What Leonard’s DC Role May Look Like

Since this is Leonard’s first defensive coordinator gig, the exact scheme and philosophy — like specific coverage shells, blitz rates, or alignment tendencies — aren’t yet fully defined in national reports. However:
• Expect emphasis on front-seven play and run defense fundamentals, given his coordinator title focused on that unit in 2025. 
• His players-first teaching style and focus on consistent standards suggests he will stress accountability, clear communication, and incremental improvement. 
• Working with veteran defensive coaches on staff (e.g., pass game coaches) may influence schematic balance — blending Leonard’s strengths with experienced voices. 

⸻

Summary

Rob Leonard’s background showcases a coach who has climbed steadily through position roles on defense, gaining experience with multiple fronts and responsibilities, especially around the defensive line and run defense. 

His coaching philosophy — as reflected in past interviews and coaching performance — centers on:
• Player development and meeting players where they are 
• Establishing culture and standards 
• Fundamentals and accountability 
• Strong relationships with players 

As he transitions to play-calling and full defensive leadership, we’ll likely see more specifics on his tactical philosophy emerge once the Raiders unveil their 2026 defensive scheme and game plans.

[Attyla]

Trust the process. Are they going to get every hire right? No, but if they get more right than wrong, the rest takes care of itself.

[Viper]

Been beating this drum and doesn’t seem like a mediocre hire in the slightest to me. They give him some talent and I believe he brings a really good defense. Might take a couple of years as the cupboard is mostly bare.

[JP808]

Kubiak did say he is looking for the right people that can teach, build relationships and motivate players. Rob fits that to a T. His background as a LB coach does give him that field general view. Hoping for the best.

[WNYRAIDER]

For sure. Offensive and defensive geniuses fail. The genius offensive or defensive playcaller is the coaching equivalent of a workout warrior at the combine - It's nice, because you can "measure" the success, but it still has to translate to the next step.

I think Kubiak has a bit more of a potential edge in that department having come from a coaching family, but only time will tell if it works out.

I also accept that some of our assistant coaching hires won't work out. Mike Mcdonald fired his first OC after one season and then moved on to Kubiak and a SB win. What's nice for us is that 2026 isn't a crucial year (other than for Mendoza's development) so if the defense falls on it's face then you rebound and try again.

...I think the fact that we were waiting until after the last game of the year to officially hire our HC, while the right move for this team at this time, in my opinion, did leave us with slimmer pickings when filling out the rest of the staff. and I would expect that to be more likely, than not, to evolve following the next season,...

[erickench]

This is similar to when they promoted Todd Downing to OC. I'm a little worried.

[chucker]

...I think the fact that we were waiting until after the last game of the year to officially hire our HC, while the right move for this team at this time, in my opinion, did leave us with slimmer pickings when filling out the rest of the staff. and I would expect that to be more likely, than not, to evolve following the next season,...

I think Kubiak is worth the wait..... but yes we are likely compromising with some other staff additions as a result. We'll have opportunities to address it next year.

[RenoRaiders75]

I wouldn't say we were shutting down teams with our last DC, let's play a few games before we hit the panic button.

[ALLRAIDERWORLD21]

This is similar to when they promoted Todd Downing to OC. I'm a little worried.

Not quite, in that instance Raiders were coming off a 12-4 season where the offense had excelled only to fire the OC because the coach and QB didn’t get along with him. It was an imbecilic move to fire Musgrave in the first place so Carr could have his little buddy who wasn’t as hard on him.

[Attyla]

I wouldn't say we were shutting down teams with our last DC, let's play a few games before we hit the panic button.

you new?