The Buffalo Bills suddenly lost head coach Doug Marrone this offseason and some of the names that could replace him include Mike Shanahan, Jim Schwartz, Rex Ryan, Pep Hamilton, Josh McDaniels and Darrell Bevell and this comes as the Bills are hoping to keep CJ Spiller in free agency in 2015.
Marrone used an opt out in his contract that permitted him to leave if the team changed owners and he did just that. Reports have Marrone as an option for the New York Jets and his move put the Bills out as one of the teams on the market looking for a head coach. The San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills are the teams with openings and they are going to battle for some of the same candidates.
According to Adam Schefter at ESPN, Mike Shanahan has had discussions with the Bills about their head coaching vacancy and he could interview with the team next week. ESPN reports that two sides are setting up and interview and that if Shanahan comes in, he likely will want some control over the personnel decisions. ESPN.com also reports that the team has requested an interview with Colts coordinator Pep Hamilton, while they have denied Jim Schwartz a chance to speak with the Redskins about being defensive coordinator in Washington, as he also will interview with the Bills.
Shanahan has been around the block, winning Super Bowls in Denver, coaching in Oakland and more recently in Washington with the Redskins. Shanahan was head coach for four seasons and was unable to get things going consistently with Robert Griffin III and now he could be a hot candidate for openings this offseason. Shanahan has been contacted by the 49ers, where he once was offensive coordinator, and he also could be a target for the Jets and the Bears.
While he was in Washington, Shanahan was head coach and Vice President of Football Operations and while he may not have that title if he comes to the Bills, he likely will have some say in personnel decisions. Shanahan has three Super Bowl rings total, with two coming as head coach and he would be an offensive minded coach, something the Bills need, although Marrone also came in as an offensive specialist and struggled on that side of the ball.
The Buffalo Bills come into the offseason after going 9-7 on the year and while they were 4-2 against the AFC East division, the team missed the playoffs. Marrone was not able to develop EJ Manuel into a viable quarterback this season, while Sammy Watkins looks like a player with potential on offense. Spiller was injured for most of the season and now is a free agent, although the Bills have expressed interest in bringing him back.
Bill Cowher has made it clear that he is not coming back to coaching this year and has ruled himself out as an option for Buffalo. Schwartz could be an option to take over in-house, as he had a strong year running the defense for Marrone. The defense was the main reason why the Bills finished with a winning record, as they ranked third in passing yards allowed per game and 11th in rushing yards allowed per game. The defense also was able to give Aaron Rodgers the worst day of his career in a 21-13 win for the Bills over the Packers.