Just hours after the Buffalo Bills’ heartbreaking 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round, another significant chapter quietly closed behind the scenes. Aaron Kromer, one of the NFL’s most respected offensive line coaches, is set to retire after nearly a quarter-century of shaping trenches across the league.
Kromer’s coaching journey spans back to 1990, when he first cut his teeth as a graduate assistant at Miami of Ohio. He climbed the ranks there, eventually coaching tight ends and H-backs before taking over the offensive line in 1998. From there, he moved to Northwestern for two seasons, continuing to hone the craft that would become his calling card in the NFL.
His break into the league came in 2001 with the then-Oakland Raiders, joining as an assistant offensive line coach under the legendary Bill Callahan. When Callahan took over as head coach in 2002, Kromer was promoted to lead the offensive line-a pivotal moment in his career. That Raiders team, remember, would go on to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Kromer’s next stop came in Tampa Bay, where he reunited with Jon Gruden from 2005 to 2007. That stint was followed by a significant run with the New Orleans Saints, where he joined Sean Payton’s staff in 2008.
Initially hired as the running backs coach, Kromer’s role quickly expanded. From 2009 to 2012, he juggled dual duties as both the offensive line and running backs coach-no small feat in a high-octane offense led by Drew Brees.
In 2012, Kromer even stepped in as interim head coach during Payton’s suspension in the wake of the Bountygate scandal.
In 2013, Kromer took on the role of offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears under Marc Trestman. That first season saw the Bears finish eighth in total offense and second in scoring-no small accomplishment.
But the momentum didn’t last. The offense stumbled the following year, and after Trestman was let go, Kromer was on the move again.
That move brought him to Buffalo in 2015, where he joined Rex Ryan’s staff as the offensive line coach. His first stint with the Bills wasn’t without turbulence-Kromer was suspended for six games following an off-field incident involving an altercation over beach chairs. After Ryan’s dismissal in 2016, Kromer was not retained.
But his coaching journey was far from over. In 2017, he landed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he served as the offensive line coach for four seasons.
In 2019 and 2020, he added “run game coordinator” to his title, helping shape one of the more versatile and creative rushing attacks in the league. When his time with the Rams ended after the 2020 season, Kromer took a year away from the sidelines.
Then came his return to Buffalo in 2022. And this time, the results spoke volumes.
Under Kromer’s guidance, the Bills’ offensive line became one of the league’s most consistent and dependable units. He played a key role in developing young talent like Spencer Brown, O’Cyrus Torrence, Alec Anderson, and Ryan Van Demark, while also helping veterans like Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, and Conor McGovern elevate their games.
Kromer’s impact across the league is undeniable. He’s been a part of three Super Bowl coaching staffs, including the Saints’ championship run in 2009.
His fingerprints are all over some of the NFL’s most efficient offensive units of the past two decades. More than just a technician, he’s been a mentor, a developer, and a steady hand in a league where offensive line stability is often hard to come by.
As he steps away from the game, Kromer leaves behind a legacy built in the trenches-where games are often won or lost, and where his influence will be felt long after his final snap on the sidelines.