GREEN BAY - It was going to be a tough sell for Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur to convince Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard to leave his alma mater and in the end, LaFleur’s efforts fell short.
Leonhard informed LaFleur on Friday night that he was turning down an offer to become the Packers’ defensive coordinator, Leonhard's Madison-based agent, Tim Valentyn, confirmed Saturday morning.
The Wisconsin State Journal was the first to report Leonhard’s decision.
LaFleur had courted Leonhard for a week, hoping to convince him that he could help the Packers get over the hump after two straight appearances in the NFC championship game.