The Buffalo Bills have been a model of stability in a league that thrives on change. Since hiring Sean McDermott back in January 2017, Buffalo has become a perennial playoff team, missing the postseason just once under his leadership.
As they gear up to face the Denver Broncos this Saturday, the Bills are once again in the thick of the AFC playoff picture. But while Buffalo has kept its head coach in place for nearly a decade, the rest of the AFC East has been far less settled-and that trend continues this offseason.
The Miami Dolphins are the latest team in the division to hit the reset button, parting ways with head coach Mike McDaniel. That move surprised many, considering Miami’s offensive explosiveness and recent playoff appearances. But now, the Dolphins are diving into the head coaching market, and their list of candidates includes a name that should raise eyebrows in Buffalo: Robert Saleh.
According to reports, the Dolphins are interviewing both Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for their vacant head coaching job. And while Minter is an intriguing name in his own right, it’s Saleh who brings an AFC East connection-and a bit of unfinished business.
Bills fans know Saleh well. He spent nearly three seasons as the head coach of the New York Jets, where his defenses consistently gave Buffalo trouble.
While the Jets never figured things out on offense-thanks in part to the revolving door at quarterback-Saleh’s defense was a different story. Under his watch, the Jets developed into one of the league’s most physical and disciplined defensive units.
They didn’t just show up-they made life difficult for Josh Allen and company, pushing the Bills in several tightly contested matchups.
Saleh’s tenure in New York ended abruptly and, some would argue, prematurely. After a rocky start to the 2024 season, the Jets let him go following Week 5-just days before a Monday night showdown with the Bills.
From that point on, things unraveled quickly in New York. The defense, once the team’s backbone, began to decline.
Key stars like Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner are no longer on the roster, and the Jets have struggled to recapture their identity since.
Now, Saleh could be on the verge of landing back in the AFC East-this time with a Dolphins team that already boasts a dynamic offense and a rapidly improving roster. If Miami pairs that firepower with a Saleh-led defense, the Bills could be looking at a much more formidable divisional rival.
Buffalo already saw the Patriots leapfrog them this season, and Miami had their number in a dominant Week 10 win down in South Florida. The AFC East is tightening up, and if Saleh ends up back in the division, it’s only going to get tougher.
For the Bills, who’ve enjoyed relative consistency while others around them reshuffled the deck, this is a reminder that the landscape can shift quickly. Saleh’s potential return isn’t just a coaching move-it’s a signal that the Dolphins are serious about building a defense that can go toe-to-toe with the best in the conference. And if history is any indication, Saleh knows exactly how to make life difficult for Buffalo.