⏳ The Broncos are the AFC’s No. 1 seed and host the Patriots in the AFC Championship. If Denver advances, Dallas can’t speak with Leonhard again until after Super Bowl LX (Feb 8). If Denver’s out, the door opens for a post-Super Bowl chat.
🔥 Dallas has already talked with former NFC coach Jonathan Gannon along the way, but Leonhard remains the top target. Leonhard has done a virtual interview; if an in-person visit happens, it would have to occur by Saturday so he can return to Denver in time.
⚡ If Leonhard can’t be nailed down in time, Gannon looms as a potential fallback depending on timing and availability.
📊 Quick background: Gannon’s Cardinals tenure was rocked by a pre-Super Bowl contact scandal that led to fines and a draft-pick swap with the Eagles; he was fired after 3 seasons, with a 4-13 2023 showing. Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort is leading the head-coaching search, while owner Michael Bidwill stays in the mix.
🔥 Takeaway: Dallas is racing against the clock for a top defensive mind, weighing Leonhard’s disruptive potential against the practical timing window, with Gannon as a supplementary option if the schedule shakes out.
