The Bills announced Monday that all of their coaches were free to seek jobs elsewhere. The status of anyone who remains on staff will be determined by the new head coach.
Who will the Bills’ new head coach be? Here are five coaches the Bills should strongly consider, if they cannot lure Bill Cowher into take the job:
Brian Billick — The former head coach of the Ravens led them to a victory in Super Bowl 35, and had an 85-67 record in nine seasons with them. Billick knows what it means to be part of a successful and stable organization, and could bring that insight to a Bills franchise that sorely needs it.
Jim Fassel — Never understood why he has not gotten another job, after a successful seven-year tenure with the Giants, which included an NFC championship in 2000. Fassel is a highly-regarded quarterback teacher, and the Bills need to develop a franchise quarterback. Fassel has not been an NFL head coach since 2003, and he would love to get back in. Buffalo could be a nice fit both for him, and for the Bills.
Perry Fewell — The Bills announced that Fewell, the interim coach, would interview for the head job. Fewell may be hurt by being part of Dick Jauron’s staff, but there is no question the Bills played better under Fewell than under Jauron. Not only did the players respond to Fewell, he knows the strengths and weaknesses of the core players. Hiring him would retain some continuity for a team that will clearly make major roster changes.
Ron Rivera — He may get to the Super Bowl as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator. He has already been to the Super Bowl as the Bears’ defensive coordinator. Chicago’s defense has not been the same since Rivera left, and the Chargers’ defense improved immediately once he became coordinator. That is strong evidence that Rivera should be a candidate. And in Buffalo, where the weather turns nasty late in the season, a team built around defense is not a bad thing. Look at the job that Rex Ryan, another defensive guy, has done with the Jets in his first season as head coach. Perhaps Rivera could have a similar impact.
Marty Schottenheimer — Over a long NFL career, he has proven he can turn a loser into a winner, and guide a team to the playoffs. So what if Schottenheimer has never been to a Super Bowl. With the Bills making their last playoff appearance in 1999, Schottenheimer would become a legend in Buffalo if he built the Bills into a playoff team.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
The Bills announced Monday that all of their coaches were free to seek jobs elsewhere. The status of anyone who remains on staff will be determined by the new head coach.
Who will the Bills’ new head coach be? Here are five coaches the Bills should strongly consider, if they cannot lure Bill Cowher into take the job:
Brian Billick — The former head coach of the Ravens led them to a victory in Super Bowl 35, and had an 85-67 record in nine seasons with them. Billick knows what it means to be part of a successful and stable organization, and could bring that insight to a Bills franchise that sorely needs it.
Jim Fassel — Never understood why he has not gotten another job, after a successful seven-year tenure with the Giants, which included an NFC championship in 2000. Fassel is a highly-regarded quarterback teacher, and the Bills need to develop a franchise quarterback. Fassel has not been an NFL head coach since 2003, and he would love to get back in. Buffalo could be a nice fit both for him, and for the Bills.
Perry Fewell — The Bills announced that Fewell, the interim coach, would interview for the head job. Fewell may be hurt by being part of Dick Jauron’s staff, but there is no question the Bills played better under Fewell than under Jauron. Not only did the players respond to Fewell, he knows the strengths and weaknesses of the core players. Hiring him would retain some continuity for a team that will clearly make major roster changes.
Ron Rivera — He may get to the Super Bowl as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator. He has already been to the Super Bowl as the Bears’ defensive coordinator. Chicago’s defense has not been the same since Rivera left, and the Chargers’ defense improved immediately once he became coordinator. That is strong evidence that Rivera should be a candidate. And in Buffalo, where the weather turns nasty late in the season, a team built around defense is not a bad thing. Look at the job that Rex Ryan, another defensive guy, has done with the Jets in his first season as head coach. Perhaps Rivera could have a similar impact.
Marty Schottenheimer — Over a long NFL career, he has proven he can turn a loser into a winner, and guide a team to the playoffs. So what if Schottenheimer has never been to a Super Bowl. With the Bills making their last playoff appearance in 1999, Schottenheimer would become a legend in Buffalo if he built the Bills into a playoff team.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.