HENDERSON, Nev. -- Life as a defensive coordinator has been quite an adjustment for Rob Leonard.
As the Las Vegas Raiders' defensive line coach since 2023, Leonard was accustomed to overseeing one position group, occasionally hitting the sled with his players at the back of the practice field. Now, he bounces around from the defensive line to defensive backs during individual drills to ensure everyone is on the same page.
He has had to spend countless hours creating a scheme based on his experiences working under defensive coordinators such as Mike Macdonald, Brian Flores and Steve Spagnuolo.
Leonard's new role has required more work. But after being a defensive assistant since he began his coaching career at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, the added responsibilities have been rewarding nonetheless.
"It's been a lot of fun. It's humbling," Leonard said.
With Leonard being a first-time defensive coordinator, the Raiders have been trying to keep most of their plans under wraps.
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However, their OTA and mandatory minicamp practices revealed enough to show that the Raiders' defense will feature a ton of versatility and play with an aggressive style that matches Leonard's personality.
"It is great, because it's trying to keep an advantage," Leonard said. "I want a player-led defense and them to understand conceptually....That's how you're able to be multiple, that's how they're able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of a call, and that has really been our focus."
Leonard never pushed to climb the coaching ranks. He spent six seasons as an assistant for the New York Giants, including three under Spagnuolo, who was the defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018. Leonard was a linebackers coach and assistant defensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021. Leonard then spent one season as an outside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 before moving to Las Vegas.
At each stop, he had faith that his work would eventually lead to him being a coordinator.
Leonard's patience was rewarded when Klint Kubiak was named the head coach in February. Leonard didn't have a prior relationship with Kubiak. But general manager John Spytek and defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Joe Woods -- who worked with Kubiak in Denver and New Orleans -- spoke highly of Leonard, leading to an interview.