LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Raiders aren’t blowing up the entire defensive playbook just yet. In a move signaling a desire for stability upfront, the Raiders are expected to promote run game coordinator/defensive line coach Rob Leonard to defensive coordinator, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The decision comes less than a week after the franchise hired Klint Kubiak as its 25th head coach.
Kubiak’s first major coordinator hire doubles down on the team’s strongest unit. While the 2025 Raiders struggled to find an identity, Leonard’s defensive line remained a legitimate problem for opposing offenses.
Building Around the Bright Spot
The numbers dictate the move. Under former defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and coach Pete Carroll last season, the Raiders’ defense suffered from a severe identity crisis, ranking 25th in points allowed (25.4) and surrendering a staggering 46.3% conversion rate on third downs.
But the trenches told a different story. Leonard’s unit anchored a run defense that ranked fourth-best in the NFL, allowing just 3.9 yards per carry. That success largely stemmed from Leonard’s work with star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who, despite the team’s volatility, racked up 10 sacks and 26 run stuffs in 2025.
Keeping Leonard offers a critical olive branch to Crosby, whose future remains a headline topic in Vegas following the coaching change. Leonard has worked directly with the Pro Bowl edge rusher since arriving in 2023.
Roster Bright Spots & The “Fix-It” List
Leonard isn’t just inheriting a star in Crosby; he’s taking over a group of young linemen he personally developed.
- Jonah Laulu: The second-year defensive tackle broke out in 2025, posting a career-high four sacks.
- Tonka Hemingway: The rookie flashed serious potential late in the year, recording four sacks in the final five games.
While the front seven looks secure, the secondary remains the question mark. Sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Joe Woods will stay on as defensive pass game coordinator. Woods and Leonard now face the task of fixing a disjointed coverage unit that failed to mesh with the pass rush last season.
“You watch the film, and the effort upfront never dipped. Leonard gets those guys to play with their hair on fire. If they can translate that energy to the back end, watch out.”
— AFC Scout on Rob Leonard’s promotion
Playoff Implications
This hire signals that Kubiak wants to win now, not rebuild. By pairing an external offensive mind (Kubiak) with an internal defensive riser (Leonard), the Raiders are trying to replicate the “continuity plus innovation” model that has worked for recent playoff contenders. If Leonard can maintain the elite run defense while Woods patches the secondary leaks, Las Vegas could quickly pivot from a 2025 disappointment to a 2026 contender in the AFC West.
