The Bills' next head coach will face extremely lofty expectations.
When Josh Allen is your quarterback, simply making the playoffs every season isn't going to cut it. Sean McDermott found that out the hard way Monday, as he was fired by the Buffalo Bills despite a 98-50 record with the team.
Despite that excellent regular-season record, McDermott's Bills faltered in the playoffs. The team went just 8-8 under McDermott in the postseason, and while he managed to lead the team to multiple AFC Championships, that wasn't good enough for Bills ownership.
That puts plenty of pressure on the next head coach in Buffalo. And with two of the most successful head-coaching candidates already off the market — John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski — the Bills' search will be more limited compared to other teams.
But there are still plenty of interesting candidates the Bills could hire this offseason. Here's a look at some of the most intriguing options the team could consider.
Joe Brady
Most recent role: Bills offensive coordinator (three straight top-6 finishes in points per game)
Why it's an intriguing hire for Buffalo: Brady already has familiarity with the team and quarterback Josh Allen. Under Brady, the Bills have ranked sixth, second and fourth in points per game over the past three seasons. Firing McDermott at this point in the offseason — when other teams already have a massive head start with interviews and some of the top candidates are already off the market — likely wouldn't happen unless the team felt comfortable it could find an adequate replacement. Maybe it's the guy the Bills already know?
Why it doesn't make sense: The next Bills coach will be expected to win the Super Bowl immediately. Does the team really want to put that expectation on a coordinator who has never been a head coach before? Brady's been successful in his role, but he's also had Allen as his quarterback. How much of the team's offensive success was Brady's play calling and schemes and how much was just Allen being one of the best players in the NFL? Given that Brady played a role in the team's early playoff exits the past few seasons, would hiring him really change anything?
Klint Kubiak
Most recent role: Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator (team ranked No. 3 in points scored in 2025)
Why it's an intriguing hire for Buffalo: Kubiak is a young offensive coordinator with upside, and could bring a new perspective to the Bills. After two middling stops early in his career, Kubiak really hit his stride in 2025, getting another strong year out of Sam Darnold and helping the Seahawks clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC. He's been an in-demand coordinator this offseason, already interviewing with at least four NFL teams for their head-coaching positions. He also has a strong pedigree within the game, as his father coached the Houston Texans and his brother currently serves as the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator.
Why it doesn't make sense: The Bills already have a young, promising offensive coordinator on staff in Joe Brady. When weighing Brady vs. Kubiak, wouldn't the team want to go with the guy who has proven he can work well with Allen? For as much success as Kubiak experienced with the Seahawks, his previous stops in Minnesota and New Orleans weren't as fruitful, so he only has one strong season on his resume. The Vikings ranked 14th in points for in 2021 and the Saints ranked 24th in points for in 2024 under Kubiak. Similar to Brady, Kubiak lacks head-coaching experience and the Bills might not be in a place where it can afford to take that risk over a more proven candidate.
Brian Flores
Most recent role: Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator (led team to two top-10 defensive finishes)
Why it's an intriguing hire for Buffalo: With Harbaugh and Stefanski off the market, there's an argument to be made Flores is the best head coach currently available. He posted a 24-25 record in three seasons with the Miami Dolphins and nearly took the team to the playoffs in 2021 despite a 1-7 start. Since being fired, Flores spent a year under Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh before joining the Minnesota Vikings, where he's continued to receive high marks for his exotic blitzes and ability to confuse quarterbacks. Unlike some of the other options the team could consider, Flores actually has head-coaching experience and has led a team to two winning seasons. He might be better equipped to handle the lofty expectations in Buffalo compared to other candidates who have never been an NFL head coach before.
Why it doesn't make sense: Flores deserves credit for leading the Dolphins to two winning seasons, but he never made the playoffs in Miami. So, while he's more experienced than other candidates, he's unproven in the postseason. Additionally, Flores received criticism from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa once the coach was fired. Tagovailoa called Flores a "terrible person" who was extremely critical. Flores, to his credit, said he would learn and grow as a coach following Tagovailoa's statement. Flores still has a pending racial-discrimination lawsuit against the NFL, so the Bills would need to be prepared to handle questions about that lawsuit if the team hires Flores.
Brian Daboll
Most recent role: New York Giants head coach (20-40-1 in four seasons)
Why it's an intriguing hire for Buffalo: Want a former NFL head coach with strong ties to the Bills and a proven ability to work well with Allen? Daboll is your man. Prior to joining the Giants, Daboll emerged as a viable head-coaching candidate thanks to his work as the Bills' offensive coordinator. He spent four seasons in that role, leading the team from the 30th-ranked offense in his first year to the third-ranked offense in his final season. He also oversaw Allen's development from extremely raw, mistake prone player to one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Unlike Flores, Daboll has postseason experience, winning one game in the playoffs in his first season with the Giants.
Why it doesn't make sense: After a promising start, the Daboll era didn't end well in New York. Daniel Jones looked viable in his first season under Daboll before experiencing regression. After ranking 15th in offense in Daboll's first season as head coach, the team fell to 30th and 31st in points for over the next two years. Jones left the Giants ahead of the 2025 NFL season and immediately looked like a much-improved player after leaving Daboll behind, which isn't a great endorsement of the coach's ability. The Bills didn't miss a beat when Daboll left initially, so how much of an impact did he really make on the team's offense?
Bill Belichick
Most recent role: North Carolina Tar Heels head coach (4-8 record in 2025)
Why it's an intriguing hire for Buffalo: The last time Belichick was paired with a generational NFL quarterback, things went pretty well. Of all the possible candidates on the head-coaching market, Belichick has the most experience and success in the NFL, and that's just what the Bills need after repeated playoff failures. Why take a shot on a first-time head coach or another franchise's washout when you can hire a future Hall of Fame coach and pair him with a future Hall of Fame quarterback?
Why it doesn't make sense: Belichick is 73 years old and just went 4-8 with North Carolina. There's no denying what Belichick was able to accomplish with the Patriots, but his time as a legendary head coach might be over now. After Tom Brady left, Belichick's Patriots didn't exactly rise to the occasion. His first year with the Tar Heels didn't end well and invited plenty of off-the-field weirdness thanks to Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson. Are the Bills a team that can afford to deal with that level of drama right now?
Chris Shula
Most recent role: Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator (team ranked 10th in points allowed in 2025)
Why it's an intriguing hire for Buffalo: Hiring from the Sean McVay coaching tree is always en vogue. Shula is the latest young upstart coordinator who has worked under McVay who is getting head-coaching buzz. After a modest first season as a coordinator, Shula's showed improvement in Year 2, when the Rams ranked 10th in points allowed on the season. He has a strong pedigree in the NFL, as his grandfather is legendary Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula.
Why it doesn't make sense: Hiring from Sean McVay's coaching tree doesn't guarantee success. Matt LaFleur and Liam Coen have performed well, but Brandon Staley and Raheem Morris didn't work out. While Shula's Rams were solid in 2025, he doesn't have a truly elite season on his resume as a coordinator. Other defensive coaches the Bills could consider have been more successful in that regard. Shula also lacks head-coach experience, and the Bills would be taking a big risk in hoping he would not only be able to make that adjustment, but also be able to deal with the immediate pressure of winning a Super Bowl in Year 1. With the Rams' win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Shula can't interview with a team until next Monday, meaning the Bills would have to wait — potentially missing out on other candidates — if the team really wants to bring in Shula.
Category: General Sports
