Just when the vacant head coach jobs were shrinking, another one opened up.
The Buffalo Bills announced that they will be parting ways with head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons with the organization.
McDermott’s dismissal comes after the Bills lost to the Denver Broncos, 30-33, marking the eighth time the Buffalo Bills have fallen out of the playoffs without reaching the Super Bowl in the nine seasons McDermott has been with the team.
Looking forward, the Bills will need someone with big shoes to fill in for the former head coach.
Rams Coordinator Top Option For New HC Job
GettyA trust member of the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff may be on his way out
It would be a lot of pressure to replace Sean McDermott in Buffalo.
The Bills only had one losing season during his nine-year tenure and made it to the playoffs 8 of times at the helm of the team. The former AFC East head coach accrued an overall coaching record of 98 wins and 50 losses.
To replace someone of his caliber, the Bills would need someone who has the winning experience to fill his role.
CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani released a list of the top five options who could be a good option to replace McDermott, naming Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Chris Shula as one of the options.
“The grandson of NFL legend Don Shula is one of the hottest candidates this coaching cycle, and someone Buffalo should take a look at as well. Chris Shula has been on Sean McVay’s staff since his first season as the Rams’ lead man back in 2017, working in multiple capacities such as linebackers coach, pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach before receiving the promotion to defensive coordinator,” Dajani wrote.
“Last year, Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young and Kobie Turner combined for 226 pressures — which ranked second-most among any foursome in the NFL… The Rams also recorded 16 sacks in the playoffs that year, which were the most in a two-game span in NFL postseason history. In 2025, Shula’s unit recorded the third-most pressures (274) and fourth-highest pressure percentage (41.7%).”
The Rams’ defense was one of the best this season, with Chris Shula calling the plays, only allowing 20.4 points per game, the 10th-lowest in the NFL.
As an upcoming coach, leading a playoff-experienced Bills would be a good first landing spot for Shula.
The Rams’ DC has been receiving serious head coaching options around the league, meaning the Bills would have to swoop in quickly to get their guy.
Top Option Could Be Familiar Face For Buffalo
GettyThe Buffalo Bills could have a frontrunner for their vacant head coaching job
With no time to waste in finding a new head coach, the Buffalo Bills may have a frontrunner who has a history with the team.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, a name that keeps popping up for the next HC for the Bills is former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, holding the role from 2018 to the 2021 seasons. According to Russini, Josh Allen “loves” Daboll and pairing them up again would see the Bills’ offense be one of the best in the league.
In his last two seasons as offensive coordinator with the Bills, before taking the New York Giants head coaching job, the Buffalo offense had the second (31.3) and third-highest (28.4) points per game.
The 2020 season was also Allen’s best passing season as a professional, throwing for 4,544 yards and 37 pass touchdowns, both career highs in a season.
If the Bills were to bring Daboll as head coach, or even as offensive coordinator, it wouldn’t take much time for Josh Allen to get accustomed to the playbook.
Like Chris Shula, Daboll has been receiving head coaching and offensive coordinator interest, forcing Buffalo to move fast.
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