INDIANAPOLIS 鈥 The NFL scouting combine is here, and with it, came Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott鈥檚 meeting with the media. A good bit of McDermott鈥檚 press briefing covered changes to the Bills coaching staff, as well as his thoughts on the current state of the team. Here are some quick highlights.
1. McDermott confirmed the firing of special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley. At his end-of-season press conference, McDermott had voiced his confidence in Smiley and said that he would be back. Shortly after, reports came out that Smiley had been fired. McDermott clarified that he wanted to fully sort through the decision before finalizing it. 鈥淵eah, I did. I can confirm that,鈥 McDermott said Monday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard business, right? Unfortunate part of the business, but a hard part of my job. And those decisions are hard decisions. And so, I know what I said after the season there, and for me, it鈥檚 wanting to take my time and go through it and making sure that I fully evaluate the position, but also where we need to go with that position. And so that was the reason for the timing on it. Matthew Smiley, he鈥檚 a heck of a person, a heck of a coach, and I can鈥檛 thank him and his family enough.鈥
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Bills coach Sean McDermott speaks to reporters at the NFL combine.
2. With that, came hiring Chris Tabor. A veteran coach, Tabor joins the Bills after a stint with the Carolina Panthers from 2022 to 2023. McDermott discussed how he鈥檚 known Tabor for years, and he鈥檚 been keeping tabs on his development. With Tabor available, it was time to make a move. 鈥淚 would say probably one that was higher up on my scale was experience, veteran experience," said McDermott on what he was seeking. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not all that different in terms of hiring (offensive line) Coach (Aaron) Kromer, right, just in terms of veteran experience, position coach, in this case, coordinator, that鈥檚 had a lot of success. So, you know, when you can get a coach like that, they鈥檙e hard to come by, No. 1. So, when you can get your hands on one, I think you鈥檝e got to take the swing, and that鈥檚 what I decided to do.鈥
Bills coach Sean McDermott speaks to reporters at the NFL combine.
3. Additional hires made. The Bills also announced Monday the hiring of three additional coaches: Ryan Nielsen as a senior defensive assistant; Mike Pellegrino as nickel coach; and Jason Rebrovich as assistant defensive line coach. On top of that, McDermott confirmed that the Bills have moved on from strength and conditioning coach Eric Ciano, and that the team is in the process of interviewing candidates for the opening.
4. McDermott high on Cook. Bills running back James Cook has been posting his feelings a bit on how much he should be paid moving forward. Asked about Cook, McDermott mostly stuck to the football side of things, and called the player a 鈥済reat example of one of the joys of that comes with coaching.鈥 But as far as an extension? McDermott is leaving that up to general manager Brandon Beane. 鈥淭he business part is going to take care of itself,鈥 McDermott said. 鈥淏randon, I know is on top of that, and you will be on top of that moving forward.鈥