From Wisconsin walk-on to Bills defensive coordinator: The making of Jim Leonhard (Gift Article)

Jim Leonhard never gives up the ghost. Because he keeps catching it. I spoke with mentors Rex Ryan, Mike Pettine, Jim O'Neil, Barry Alvarez and Paul Chryst, teammates Darrelle Revis and Matt Bowen and more (plus Leonhard himself) about how the new Bills DC does it. www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...

"A chess master." "He’s destined to be a great one." "Badass." "It changes your organization." "When he got hurt, it cost us a Super Bowl." “He’s a grinder.” “He’s going to have a huge impact.” Those who know Jim Leonhard explain who he is and the D he runs: www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...

“Part of what comes with being in a small town is knowing there’s always bigger and better out there. I always had my eyes on that. "I don’t know what it is, but I’ve got to go find it." www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...

From Wisconsin walk-on to Bills defensive coordinator: The making of Jim Leonhard www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...