Who do we want, who do we need as our next HC and, or GM?

[Kirby Jackson]

4 minutes ago, ScottishBills said:

 

Slight aside, he is not the only one.

I was reasonably happy in the summer with the new contracts handed out - i wouldn't have done Bernard at that price, but the others seemed ok

 

But some of those guys - Benford, Bernard, Shakir - plus a bunch of other guys - Taron, Milano, Rapp - all played well below the level we know they can play

 

In Rapp's case it seems like we found out that there was an injury behind that (or they are lying i suppose)

Possible some of the others are also?

 

I only say this because in the absence of a bunch of new players appearing from heaven to fix it - we are stuck with these guys. And that would actually be just about fine if they played at 8/10 rather than 6/10 every week.

 

Also, i dont rate games missed as the measure (though it is the easiest measure) - Kincaid has only missed one game this season, and a couple last year maybe - but he has barely been fit through that stretch - you don't have the real player, even though it shows as "not injured"

 

I would have paid Benford and Cook. I didn’t love the other deals. You could make a case for Shakir and Rousseau.

[ScottishBills]

2 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I would have paid Benford and Cook. I didn’t love the other deals. You could make a case for Shakir and Rousseau.

 

Would you pay Kincaid - that decision is coming up this year or next?

 

Fairly sure McBeane will - and we will have another few years of saying we would have fine if only he was fit

 

Also sure a number of fans will also agree as you see flashes with him - but to me its another guy with "flashes" - i never see out of him what i see from McBride, or Bowers or Warren or Kelce or Kittle or even Kraft. He is no mismatch nightmare. He is another 6.5/10 player from the Beano handbook that doesnt move the needle, but takes up just enough cap room that we cant do anything else.

[Kirby Jackson]

29 minutes ago, ScottishBills said:

 

Would you pay Kincaid - that decision is coming up this year or next?

 

Fairly sure McBeane will - and we will have another few years of saying we would have fine if only he was fit

 

Also sure a number of fans will also agree as you see flashes with him - but to me its another guy with "flashes" - i never see out of him what i see from McBride, or Bowers or Warren or Kelce or Kittle or even Kraft. He is no mismatch nightmare. He is another 6.5/10 player from the Beano handbook that doesnt move the needle, but takes up just enough cap room that we cant do anything else.

For better or worse, I would pay Kincaid. He’s dynamic (when healthy). The problem I had with the Rousseau, Shakir (a little) and certainly Bernard deals is that they’re all role players. I wouldn’t make a habit of paying for role players. Milano has been hurt the last few years but when he was healthy he was dynamic. I’d always pay guys that I think can be all-pros even if it doesn’t work out. I wouldn’t pay role players as a rule because I think you can find them pretty easily. 

[BillsShredder83]

On 11/11/2025 at 4:02 PM, stuvian said:

I am content with the status quo up to the point where we are eliminated from post season. I still maintain that there is more right than wrong with the Bills.

 

Improving on Beane will mean raiding the likes of SF, the Rams, Eagles, Chiefs, and Seahawks. It seems like many of the other teams are always dealing where we are so tight against the cap we can't do anything. If we whiff on a few draft picks its like starting over every season. Our contract resources on defense are not well allocated as a result. Our talent evaluation is mediocre at best. Our total lack of defensive playmakers is glaring. If Coleman is a wasted pick I will be ready to close the door on Beane. 

 

I have been a McDermott backer since the beginning but the clock is ticking close to midnight on this regime. Close isn't good enough any more.

 

I suspect Terry will take a big swing if he cleans house. Something along the lines of Nick Saban, Mike McCarthy, Flores, Spagnuolo, Sarkisian, or Kiffin. BB is effectively black balled from the league if for no other reason than to deny him a shot at Shula's record.

 

I can't tell which is the real Bills - the one that lost to Miami and Atlanta or the one that beat Baltimore and KC. Let's let the season play out before burning the house down.

Gimme Kiffin. Id prefer to dig into the college ranks over hiring from a very limited NFL pool. Hell be available and if he can make as much $$ in the NFL as NCAA, im not sure why anybody would stay down there. 

 

It might not be less work in the NFL, but your time is allocated exclusively to X & O type work when you take recruitment outta the picture 

[BillsShredder83]

On 11/11/2025 at 4:43 PM, thenorthremembers said:

There have been 7 different head coaches to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory in the last two years.   4 of 7 had been head coaches for a different team prior to coming to the Super Bowl winning team.   6 of the 7 coached the offensive side of the ball before becoming a head coach.  If we are going to move of from McDermott, I dont want a young coordinator who will take time to learn the nuances of gameday and roster management.     That said, a team of Jon Gruden/Reggie Mckenzie or Matt Nagy/Mike Bradway would be the way I'd lean.  

 

If you are going to fire a coach that has been pretty damn good for 9 years it better be for a guy who can have you in the Super Bowl the very next year.  McDermott would have a job in two seconds if they fired him.

Genuine question, bc I dunno. What would make Reggie McKenzie a good GM? Aside from GB his resume doesn't do anything for me. Not being critical, I dont have my pulse on Front Office guys to know anything about who would make a good GM

[BillsShredder83]

On 11/11/2025 at 9:39 PM, NeverOutNick said:

Best drafting organizations are the eagles, ravens and lions. Lions have been AMAZING since Holmes got there so find his #2 and bring him in.

 

 

HC is harder but honestly I don’t think we can do much worse. We just need someone who can gameplan to Josh’s strengths. I’d be fine with bringing Daboll in but I’d love to give Lane Kiffin a shot. Dude is awesome on the offensive side of the ball and seems relaxed and a little more mature now if he was given a 2nd NFL HC gig. Him and Josh would be awesome together. 
 

Some other HC options I would kick the tires on are Curt Cignetti. I know he has no NFL experience and is older BUT this guy is a GREAT coach. Indiana shouldn’t be making the CFB playoffs. They’re a basketball school and this dude is putting up crazy offensive numbers his first 2 years coaching a real CFB program. Matt Nagy did horrible as a first time HC in Chicago with Trubisky but he’s been the KC offensive coordinator for years since and deserves another chance with a real NFL QB. I would love to poach a current HC like Lafleur or Dan Campbell but I don’t think it’s realistic. 

Not at you specifically,  but ive seen Cignetti s name a bunch... dude just signed $11m/yr deal with a billion incentives, in October. 

 

If he tries to leave he owes something like $15m back. Its an interesting complicated contract to look at, but its as ironclad that he won't be leaving anytime soon, let alone this year

[Chicken Boo]

On 11/11/2025 at 10:13 PM, jaybeezee said:

Who were his QBs?

 

 

Derek Carr  and Rich Gannon were his best. He's had Chris Dimms, Brian Greese, Brad Johnson.

 

That's not cream of the crop by any stretch.

 

He was the head coach!  He bears some responsibility 

[LarryMadman]

On 11/11/2025 at 2:02 PM, Kirby Jackson said:

I have little to no interest in a recycled guy. I don’t “need” to see someone that won a long time ago. Bill Cowher was never the answer for the 20 straight years of people screaming for him. Gruden sucks. I also don’t think Shanahan and McVay are realistic so cross them off. Those teams aren’t trading their elite coaches because we want them to. Curt Cignetti was my guy but don’t think that we can afford him at this point. 
 

I think that Lane Kiffin is my guy now. He has just enough ego and edge. The Bills have lacked a swagger and killer mentality. This offense would be explosive. Lane would inject that confidence. Schwartz would be my goal at DC.
 

If Schoen gets fired he would be my GM target. He seems to be the scout. He’s drafted elite talent and the Bills roster was better when he was here. If not Schoen, I’d try to pry Nick Casserio away from the Texans. I don’t know what that looks like either but he’s excellent. 

If that happens, I could see Daboll becoming HC. 

[Negan]

Daboll HC

Joe Schoen GM ( he was the brains behind Beane).

[BillsShredder83]

On 11/12/2025 at 12:43 PM, SoMAn said:

And yet, the team was a couple bad first down spots from possibly going to the super bowl last year. 

They've averaged nearly 12 wins per season since 2019.

They started out this year as super bowl favorites, then won their first 4 games.  They beat perennial powerhouses from KC and Baltimore.

After a 17 year drought, they've made the post season 7 out of the last 8 years.

So what happened?

Maybe fielding a XFL defense after the starting squad has been completely decimated by injury, starting as early as OTAs and continuing right up until the last game.

Their regular season success has prevented them from drafting high enough to get an impact WR as the blue-chippers are long gone by the time the Bills are up to the podium.

I get that many are disappointed with the trajectory of this season, but this is what sometimes happens in the NFL. Last year the Bills exceed expectations. This year they're experiencing a lot of bad breaks. 

Guess what? They may not make the playoffs this year. It's not the end of the world. They may get eliminated in the first round if they get there. 

Maybe an 'off season' could be a blessing in disguise if they can get a draft pick within the top 20 for a change. With a little maneuvering, they could even drop down into the top 15 and get that impact WR.

Whatever happens Chicken Littles, it's not time to blow it all up and start over. There's still hope.

 

 

All this is great... but look at the direction were trending. Look at the teams effort/fire Sunday.

 

Its a sinking ship. 2021 should've been a Super Bowl winning team that year... and would've been in contention any year since then. 

 

I think they'd be a mile ahead of anybody else if you drop them in 2025. Everything has slowly gotten worse, less focused, less sharp. Talent diluted. Cap progressively getting worse. Still hiring awful coordinators. 

 

Anybody can look at this team and see the players lack of intensity. They look like they hate being at a damn game, imagine practice vibes.

 

If the team was still responsive and in tune with their coach, we wouldn't have seen them look like that. You cant get be this good, playing someone that bad, get blown out, look disinterested, and tell me the players still believe in their coaches. Especially when its not the first or even second time this year... and thats just counting losses... weve won games that look like that this year too

[JP51]

On 11/11/2025 at 2:31 PM, mannc said:

Noted.

 

IMO, it simply has to be an offensive-minded head coach.  No more defensive geniuses who have to cycle through offensive coordinators every year or two…

I dont disagree, I just dont think it is happening.

[DrDawkinstein]

13 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

If the team was still responsive and in tune with their coach, we wouldn't have seen them look like that. You cant get be this good, playing someone that bad, get blown out, look disinterested, and tell me the players still believe in their coaches. Especially when its not the first or even second time this year... and thats just counting losses... weve won games that look like that this year too

 

It has plagued us for at least the last 3 years. Far too many times, even after wins, I hear "maybe this is the game that wakes up the team" or "maybe McD will use this to light a fire under them"... never happens. 

 

Our staff is so concerned with "playing it cool", never getting too high or too low, that we just stay at 0 and mediocre. I'd rather get the guys amped up to 50 and saddle the coach with the responsibility to not let them swing back too low.

 

There have been some games we actually looked fired up for, but it is too far and few between. Most of the time it looks like we're just going through the motions.

[BillsShredder83]

19 hours ago, Nihilarian said:

Kansas City Chiefs have been this teams biggest impediment to reach a SB. The Chiefs have an offensive genius for a HC. They have a defensive genius for a DC and both DC, OC assistant coaches KC have been previous NFL head coaches. Their GM is also brilliant. 

 

Kansas City has had it so good for so long because the AFC West has had only one good team with one good head coach. That has now changed with Denver in the lead 8-2, the Chargers right behind them at 7-3 and the Chiefs are 5-4.  Their time might be up. 

 

 

This Buffalo head coach in McDermott is not afraid to make changes on his staff as we have seen with several OCs, and several other assistant coaches. When someone doesn't meet this regimes standards they are replaced. Currently the Buffalo offense is the #1 rushing team in the NFL. Joe Brady is a run game god and O line coach Aaron Kromer is the best line coach the Bills have had in forever. Both assistant positions have been changed many times under McD.  

 

Leslie Frazier was the DC and responsible for the 13 second debacle and he was replaced. And yes, the buck stops with the head coach and yet we have seen that he doesn't interfere with his assistants. Brian Daboll ran the offense his way as a pass happy mad man. When he left ken Dorsey attempted to follow suit. It wasn't good enough so he was fired and replaced mid season. which was good enough to go from 6-6 to 12-7, a six game tear. Now Joe Brady is running the offense his way which is a run centric offense. 

 

What really stinks is the injury bug has hit this team hard again this season with all the rookies and some star players. This isn't the head coaches or GMs fault as it's just bad luck. So many problems have been the injuries at the end of the year and it's like this team is cursed. As far as the injuries they replaced the head trainer and will do it again should they continue.

 

Many other team are in the same situation too. The ravens at 4-5 were supposedly SB contenders this year and they have so many players injured. in 2021 they went 8-9. They had had some serious problems with injuries over the years. -John Harbaugh 18 years-He won a super bowl with QB Joe Falcco who was in Balt for 11 seasons and then they moved on.  They now have QB Lamar Jackson 2 time MVP. 

 

The Packers had Brett Favre and moved on to Aaron Rodgers and now to Jordan Love.

 

If you have top coaches and a top GM while providing good team culture I think it's easier to find a good QB and develop him rather then find a good head coach/GM. The Buffalo Bills currently have a great head coach and GM! The odds of finding a top NFL head coach/GM are statistically low, as it's a highly competitive and difficult path that often requires years of experience and a strong track record.

 

With this owner searching for a new HC/GM...no thank you. 

"KC is so good, we just gotta be ok with never getting past AFCCG because of it"

 

That's what im hearing. Its evident to everyone under the sun, this staff is incapable of beating KC in January. It sure as heck ain't happening with a weakening roster.

 

"McD is capable of making changes when coordinators don't live up to their standards"

 

So why do we keep hiring bum coordinators, and letting guys learn on the job that have never done it before?

 

Thats what you do with a young QB/team. You dont continue to lose to the Chiefs in playoffs, by getting outcoached and then promote someone from the same staff... while knowing we are in a SB window... while knowing theyre going to make rookie mistakes.

 

You think a 35yr old rookie coordinators are suddenly going to walk in, never having done this before, and beat a staff of Reid/Spagnola? 

 

Somehow Josh is in year 9 and were further away than we were the first time we lost to them.

 

There's nothing to be scared of. Were not hiring a HC/GM for the 17yr drought Buffalo Sabres.

 

Were hiring for a team on the cusp of a championship... with hopefully another 5-8+ years of Josh Allen. That is going to be by far the most significant attractive opening that theres been in the NFL since literally???? 5 years at least! Could be 10+.

 

You dont have to be brilliant to get the right guys from that pool. Its the applicants job to come in and blow you away. We will generate insane levels of interest from the top of the cream.

[Alphadawg7]

On 11/11/2025 at 10:55 AM, jaybeezee said:

There are  plenty ofthreads about McD and Beane. I have arguments with family and friends about both, with many of them afraid to move on, solely because they are afraid of who Terry will hire to replace them. My brother continues to ask me, who's better for HC than McD that is out there?

 

My answer is Gruden. I think if he hires a competent OC, he would be able to bring Josh back to the Josh that we all know and have seen dominate the NFL. He definitely would not give Josh the weapons he has now, and if he inherited the guys we do have now, I'm certain that he could squeeze a little bit more production out of them then this current staff is. Just his firey attitude would contribute more than this Xanax crew is giving us.

 

What HC/ GM combo do you all suggest? Realistic duos please.

 

 

 

Gruden?  I don't get the infatuation with this guy.  He was fired in TB because he lost the locker room.  Him and his bone head GM made god awful decisions and choices in his last stint with the Raiders, and he hasn't had very many double digit win seasons.  

 

Im a hard pass on Gruden.

 

A guy who would be very high on my list and very realistic if a change was ever made is:  Brian Flores.  This guy got more out of his rosters than most, he knows defense (our biggest achiles heal in the playoff losses), and is just a great coach in my eyes.  Higher the right OC to pair with him, and this is the kind of coach that could really impact this team.  I don't want to hear about "he is a defensive HC" nonsense, so is Vrabel and he is again killing it as a HC.  And quite honestly, we are the best in the NFL since Josh arrived at scoring points, we suck at preventing points in the post season though.

 

Also, I would be up for Belichick if he can also lure McDaniels to join him here.  

[nosejob]

Fo those still hating on Gruden after lo these many years, watch his you tube game previews and analysis. Him and the nerd would be a great pairing IMO.

[Kirby Jackson]

1 minute ago, nosejob said:

Fo those still hating on Gruden after lo these many years, watch his you tube game previews and analysis. Him and the nerd would be a great pairing IMO.

A guy that knows football breaking down games on YouTube isn’t of interest to me. I’d just assume hire those dudes from Cover 1. Gruden sucks. He shouldnt be anywhere near an NFL job. He has a long track record of not being good. Doug Pederson would be better.

[HOUSE]

I want the same people until Josh retires.

We can't have all these Suprbowl banners cluttering up the new stadium.