The Las Vegas Raiders have a new defensive coordinator, and the early sales pitch has felt a little light on football and heavy on personal testimonials.
The main talking point is that Rob Leonard is “basically” Maxx Crosby’s favorite coach in the building. Cool. Player-coach chemistry matters. But liking a coach—even loving him—isn’t the same thing as proving he can run an entire defense on Sundays. My favorite barista knows my order, too. That doesn’t mean I’m handing them the keys to a restaurant during the dinner rush.
Supporters of the move keep circling the same points: continuity, familiarity, “virtually no downside,” and the added bonus of keeping your franchise pass rusher happy. It’s a neat checklist. The problem is that it skips the one question that decides whether this works: can Leonard call a game when the offense across from him has a script, counters, and the ability to force him into bad answers three snaps in a row?
How big of a gamble is this
Leonard isn’t a blind swing. He has 14 years of coaching experience, mostly in the NFL, and the Raiders trusted him with run-game duties. At times, the front looked tougher and more organized. That’s why an in-house promotion isn’t crazy.
But coaching a position group isn’t the same as calling a whole defense. With the headset, you own everything—third down, red zone, blitz calls, communication, substitutions, and adjustments when injuries hit or an offense speeds up. You also have to survive quarterbacks who get the ball out fast and neutralize the pass rush.
That’s the risk behind the “no downside” talk. Some assistants jump in smoothly. Others don’t. It usually comes down to preparation, the staff around them, and how much support the head coach provides early on.
Should the Raiders have gone for Jim Schwartz?
The talk about Jim Schwartz is important because it shows the choice: hire a proven playcaller or promote someone from within. The Raiders chose the internal bet. Kubiak is tying his own timeline to Leonard’s if he thinks Leonard can make the jump. Head coaches don’t get extra time for “interesting” plays.
It’s easy to understand the Crosby angle. It’s important to keep your best player happy. But that’s not the same as running a defense. “Triple win” games are available online. Sundays don’t care.
If Leonard is the right guy, it will show in third downs, the red zone, and finishing drives with real stops—not “almost.” If he’s not, the Raiders will have continuity, plus a quicker path back to the market for a proven coordinator.
Raider Nation weighs in…
Raiders fans made their feelings known on the matter as soon as the news dropped. Take a look at some instant reactions from X. Meanwhile, let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
It’s a well deserved promotion. The fact that Maxx loves playing for Leonard and they’re so close that Maxx calls him “Robbie” is a plus but not why they decided to make him the DC.
— J. Jonah Jameson (@jjrenteria76) February 15, 2026
They didn’t have a lot of good options so they settled They chose the one who’s already at home and who also has a very good relationship with Maxx. Win-win situation.
— Jordi de Raiders (@kalinus_) February 15, 2026
At first glance it seemed like the former. However, after looking at how his group and players have performed it’s evident that it’s a deserved promotion, with the added bonus of Maxx liking his style of coaching.
— RaiderBerto (@RaiderBerto) February 15, 2026
It’s well deserved, and I don’t care about pacifying Maxx. I’m okay with trading him.
— Island Pirate (@RichardSavery2) February 15, 2026
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images