Bills Coaching Search: Waiting Game Begins as Top Candidate Remains Unavailable
The Buffalo Bills find themselves in a familiar - and frustrating - position: waiting. With their head coaching search still in full swing, one of the most intriguing names on their radar, Klint Kubiak, is now officially off-limits for the next two weeks.
Why? Because Kubiak, the 38-year-old offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is heading to the Super Bowl after Seattle’s thrilling 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams. And under NFL rules, teams can’t interview coaches still preparing for the big game unless they’ve already conducted an initial interview - which the Bills haven’t.
So, if Buffalo is serious about Kubiak - and by all indications, they are - they’ll have to wait until after the Super Bowl to even begin the process.
Why the Delay Matters
The NFL’s interview restrictions are designed to protect playoff teams from distractions, and the Bills have been on the other side of this before - fending off requests for their own assistants during deep postseason runs. But now, with Buffalo one of only four teams still without a head coach (along with the Raiders, Cardinals, and Browns), the clock is ticking.
Six other teams - the Ravens, Giants, Falcons, Dolphins, Titans, and Steelers - have already filled their vacancies and are now assembling their coaching staffs. Every day the Bills wait, the pool of available assistants shrinks. And that’s not just about filling out a coaching tree - it’s about securing the right offensive and defensive minds to support whoever takes the top job.
Who’s Available Now?
With the Rams and Broncos both eliminated from the playoffs, some new names have hit the interview circuit - and the Bills aren’t wasting time.
Davis Webb, currently the quarterbacks coach for the Broncos, is set to interview with the team Monday morning. Whether that’s happening in person at owner Terry Pegula’s Florida home or via Zoom hasn’t been confirmed.
What we do know: Webb has strong ties to Buffalo. He spent three seasons (2019-2021) on the Bills’ practice squad and is a close friend of Josh Allen - who, notably, is involved in the hiring process.
At just 30 years old, Webb is a rising name in coaching circles, though he’s never been a head coach or even a coordinator. He retired from playing in 2022 and jumped straight into coaching.
He’s also drawing serious interest from the Raiders, who are bringing him in for a second interview later Monday. That’s notable, especially since Buffalo’s current OC Joe Brady is also getting a second look from Las Vegas.
Whether that signals the Raiders aren’t willing to wait for Kubiak - or are just doing their due diligence - remains to be seen.
Other names from recently eliminated teams that could be in the mix for Buffalo include Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur (who doesn’t call plays), passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and Broncos DC Vance Joseph. None have been directly linked to the Bills yet, but with the coaching carousel spinning fast, that could change quickly.
Where Things Stand After a Busy Week
The Bills have already cast a wide net in their search. Over the past week, they’ve interviewed a mix of offensive and defensive minds, including:
- Joe Brady (Bills OC)
- Brian Daboll (former Bills OC, most recently Giants HC)
- Lou Anarumo (Colts DC)
- Anthony Lynn (Commanders run game coordinator)
- Grant Udinski (Jaguars OC)
- Anthony Weaver (Dolphins DC)
- Phillip Rivers (yes, that Phillip Rivers)
Rivers, who interviewed over the weekend, has since withdrawn his name from head coaching consideration. Whether he’d be open to a coordinator or QB coach role under the eventual head coach remains unclear. But it’s worth noting that his presence in the process signals Buffalo’s willingness to think outside the box.
As for Udinski, he also pulled out of the running Monday morning. After two interviews with the Browns, the Jaguars reportedly offered him a raise to stay on as offensive coordinator. Still, Jacksonville is allowing the 30-year-old to continue pursuing head coaching opportunities - and it sounds like Buffalo might be the only one still in play.
Then there’s Mike McDaniel, the former Dolphins head coach who was scheduled to meet with the Bills but ultimately canceled. He now appears headed to the Chargers as their offensive coordinator, and truthfully, his fit in Buffalo always felt a bit off.
The Road Ahead
So where does that leave the Bills? In a holding pattern, at least if Kubiak is their top choice. And while that wait could cost them some top-tier assistants, it also speaks to how highly the organization may value Kubiak’s potential.
In the meantime, Buffalo is doing its homework, interviewing available candidates and keeping its options open. But with each passing day, the pressure mounts. The league’s top coaching talent is getting scooped up, and the Bills can’t afford to miss on this hire - not with a franchise quarterback in his prime and a Super Bowl window that remains wide open.
The waiting may be the hardest part, but for the Bills, it could also be the most important.