After parting ways with a top coordinator following their disappointing playoff exit, the Buffalo Bills have found a replacement.
The Bills parted ways with longtime special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley weeks after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game, firing him even after head coach Sean McDermott initially gave Smiley a public vote of confidence.
The Bills had suffered some major blunders on special teams, with the New England Patriots converting a fake punt for a first down during the regular season and the Denver Broncos doing it again to the Bills in the playoffs. The team also had a punt blocked in a regular-season loss to the Los Angeles Rams and surrendered a long punt return in the AFC title game loss to the Chiefs.
Despite the unit's struggles, the firing came as a surprise after McDermott appeared to signal immediately after the playoff loss that Smiley would be back on the staff in 2025.
“Listen, I know there are plays that have come up and I know he doesn’t feel great about them, nor do I. Those are learning pieces for a coach in his position,” McDermott said while referring to the team's injuries, via The Associated Press. “All that being said, I’m confident that coach Smiley is going to learn from those situations.”
The team announced a series of coaching changes on Feb. 24, including the hiring of Chris Tabor as the new special teams coordinator. Tabor served as special teams coordinator and interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2023 and as special teams coordinator for the Chicago Bears from 2018-21. He previously spent seven seasons with the Cleveland Browns as their special teams coordinator.
The Bills also announced the hire of Ryan Nielsen as senior defensive assistant, Jason Rebrovich as assistant defensive line coach, and Mike Pellegrino as nickel cornerbacks coach.
