The coaching carousel in Buffalo keeps spinning, and the latest to hop off is defensive line coach Marcus West. He’s heading south to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the same role, continuing what’s become a full-blown defensive staff shake-up at One Bills Drive.
West’s departure marks another significant change for a Bills defense that’s been a consistent force under Sean McDermott. While West wasn’t the flashiest name on the staff, his impact was real.
During his tenure, the Bills finished in the top 10 in total defense in three of the four seasons he was part of the organization. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident.
West came to Buffalo in 2022, stepping into the NFL coaching world after years of grinding it out at the college level. He started as the assistant defensive line coach and held that position through the 2023 season. In that time, he worked closely with a front that’s been central to Buffalo’s defensive identity - a group that’s thrived on depth, rotation, and relentless pressure.
At 42, West’s coaching journey has been shaped by his time in the college ranks, where he built a reputation as a hands-on teacher and motivator. He got his start at Wartburg back in 2008, then spent six seasons at Chattanooga refining his craft.
From there, he took on more responsibility at Austin Peay, where he wore multiple hats: assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator, and defensive line coach. Stops at Minnesota (as a pass rush specialist) and Charlotte (again as assistant head coach/co-DC/DL coach) followed, rounding out a resume that’s heavy on leadership and defensive line development.
Before all that, West was a player himself - a 6’3”, 280-pound defensive lineman out of Memphis. He went undrafted but got a shot with the Indianapolis Colts in the summer of 2006. His playing career also included a stint in the CFL during the 2007 season.
For Tampa Bay, West brings a blend of NFL experience and a deep well of college coaching knowledge. For Buffalo, it’s another hole to fill on a staff that’s seen plenty of turnover this offseason. The Bills are clearly entering a new chapter, and with each coach that departs, the identity of this defense is shifting.
What’s next for Buffalo’s defensive front remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: Marcus West’s next chapter will unfold in the NFC South, where he’ll look to bring the same energy and attention to detail that helped shape one of the AFC’s most consistent defensive units.