Las Vegas Raiders promote Rob Leonard to be defensive coordinator

The Raiders are staying in-house to fill their defensive coordinator position.

Rob Leonard, their defensive line coach and run game coordinator, is finalizing a deal with the club to be its defensive leader, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Leonard’s promotion fills a key role on the first staff under new head coach Klint Kubiak.

Leonard has been with the Raiders since 2023, working under three different head coaches, and is close with Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

Leonard’s relationship with Crosby is seen as a positive in the Raiders’ hopes of retaining Crosby, who could be wavering about staying on for yet another Raiders rebuild.

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With Leonard in the fold, Crosby could be more agreeable to staying on.

Leonard, who played college football at N.C. State, began his NFL coaching career in 2013 as a defensive assistant for the Giants, where he eventually became the assistant defensive line coach under Patrick Graham. Leonard was with the Giants for six seasons.

Leonard and Graham would eventually reunite in Miami in 2019, where Graham was the defensive coordinator, and again in Las Vegas, where Graham was the defensive coordinator the last four seasons.

Leonard officially replaces Graham, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Steelers.