Jim Leonhard life and biography

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

◊ A veteran of 54 NFL games with 20 starts...Recorded 144 tackles, one sack, three interceptions, nine passes defensed and one touchdown, which he scored on a 35- yard interception return at CIN, 11/30/08...Recorded 19 special teams tackles.
◊ Recorded 326 yards on 31 punt returns (10.5 avg.) and 249 yards on 11 kickoff returns (22.6 avg.).
◊ Saw action in three postseason games, all starts, and recorded 16 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries... Returned nine punts for 115 yards (22.8 avg.).
◊ Registered his first NFL start at NYJ, 12/10/06, recording five tackles and another stop on special teams.
◊ Only undrafted rookie to make the Bills 2005 opening day 53-man roster.

◊ 2008 (BAL)
Played in all 16 games, with a career-high 13 starts for the NFL’s second ranked defense and posted a career-high 85 tackles, his first-career sack, six passes defensed and one interception…He assumed the starting role after an injury sidelined starter Dawan Landry in Week Two… He also returned 20 punts for 232 yards and eight kickoffs for 163 yards. POSTSEASON: Started all three postseason games and finished third on the Ravens defense with 16 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries…Recorded nine punt returns for 115 yards. (1/18/09 at PIT)...Reeled off a 45-yard punt return in the AFC Championship Game. (1/4/09 at MIA)...Intercepted Chad Pennington and also split a sack of Pennington with Haruki Nakamura in AFC Wild Card Game. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (11/30 at CIN)… Posted an interception of Jared Palmer, which he returned 35 yards for his first career touchdown. (10/26 vs. OAK)… Returned four punts for 63 yards, including a career-long 46-yarder. (10/19 at MIA)…Led the secondary with nine solo tackles (career high for solo tackles). (9/29 at PIT)… Made his first start of the season for an injured Dawan Landry and had six tackles. (9/21 vs. CLE)…Recorded his first career sack, a loss of seven yards on Derek Anderson...Also returned three kickoffs for 78 yards and a punt for 21 yards.

◊ 2007 (BUF)
Saw action in 13 games (missed three games with a calf injury), including a then career-best six starts... Recorded a career-high 51 tackles, including 40 solo and his first career interception, as well as three passes defensed and five special teams tackles on the year. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/30 at PHI)…Started and finished with six tackles (all solo) in the season finale. (12/16 at CLE)... Recorded six tackles on defense…Also registered two kickoff returns for 32 yards (16.0 avg.) and two punt returns for 18 yards. (9/16 at PIT)…Posted seven tackles and one interception on Ben Roethlisberger, which he returned 24 yards. (9/9 vs. DEN)…Tied for the team lead with a careerhigh 11 tackles and intercepted Jay Cutler, the first of his career, returning it 36 yards.

◊ 2006 (BUF)
Played in 15 games, including his first career start...Finished the season with six tackles (four solo) from scrimmage and established a then career high with nine special teams tackles. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/10 at NYJ)…Made his first-career start and recorded five tackles on defense and added another stop on special teams. (12/3 vs. SD)…Posted one special teams tackle and recorded a career-long 32-yard punt return, setting up a Bills touchdown. (11/12 at IND)…Led the team with two special teams tackles and recorded an 18-yard kickoff return on a lateral from Terrence McGee.

◊ 2005 (BUF)
Saw action in 10 games after making the team as an undrafted free agent...Recorded four special teams tackles and two tackles from scrimmage as a rookie... SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/24 at CIN)…Saw action from scrimmage and played on special teams, returning his first-career kickoff for 36 yards…Also saw action from scrimmage, but did not record a tackle. (11/27 vs. CAR)... Played on special teams and registered three tackles. (10/2 at NO)…Played in his first-career game on special teams, but did not record a tackle.

BEFORE THE NFL

◊ Played in 51 games, including 39 starts during his four year career at Wisconsin.
◊ Started every game his last three seasons and was a four year letterman for the Badgers, finishing his career with 281 total tackles, ranking 21st in UW history.
◊ Tied UW record with 21 interceptions, tied for fourth-most in Big Ten history...Ranked fourth in school history with 50 passes defensed.
◊ Big Ten career leader in punt return yardage (1,347), with 105 punt returns placing him third in league history... Fourth player in school history with three career punt returns for touchdowns.
◊ Two-time first-team All-State selection, who captained Flambeau HS (Tony, WI) as a junior and senior.
◊ Recorded eight interceptions and 120 tackles, earning team MVP honors as a senior.

OFF THE FIELD

◊ Majored in kinesiology while at Wisconsin.
◊ Married to the former Katie Childs.
◊ Born James Andrews Leonhard.
◊ Runs Jim Leonhard Football Skills Camp for high school players each June at Flambeau HS (began in 2008).

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