Today, the Buffalo Bills made an unexpected, yet needed move on their coaching staff. HC Sean McDermott was fired after yet another disappointing loss in the playoffs, this time to the Denver Broncos.
The Bills are the latest team to join the extensive list of openings around the league, and they will need to start their search immediately. Still, only two openings, the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants, have been filled, so the Bills have some great candidates still available.
NFL Insider Lists Potential Coach Options for the Buffalo Bills
The Bills are now one of, if not the, best openings available, given Josh Allen as the QB, so interest around the league will be rampant. On Buffalo’s side, they have to hit with this hire because firing a respected coach who has led the team to the playoffs every year except once since being hired is a risky move.
Thoughts on the Bills HC search and 3 names to circle.
The big question — how much say does Josh Allen get in the decision? How much should he?@FirstTake @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/WGXunxa9QM
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 19, 2026
Looking at the group of available candidates, the Bills can go in a number of different directions, but NFL Insider Peter Schrager believes three options stand out for Buffalo’s search: Bills OC Joe Brady, former Bills OC and New York Giants Brian Daboll, and Broncos OC Davis Webb.
As Schrager laid out, each of these HC options makes sense for the Bills, and specifically for Josh Allen.
Brady is the easy choice, with him being the Bills’ current OC and a coveted name in last year’s coaching search. Although the lack of head coaching experience may scare the Bills away.
Daboll was just the Giants’ HC, and although his time in New York was far from smooth, he does have experience and can partner back up with Allen, with whom he was praised for developing. The issue with the Daboll choice is how it went in New York, which could be a major factor for teams.
The last, and most interesting option that Schrager brought up was Webb. One of the main points he noted was Webb’s relationship with Allen, dating back to when Webb was his backup in Buffalo. Schrager categorized their relationship as “best friends,” which could be a driving factor why Allen may want him as HC, but it could also be the catalyst for the Bills avoiding that hire.
These three HC candidates each have convincing reasons to be the hire Buffalo makes, but like almost every candidate available, there are question marks the Bills will need to evaluate before they make their final choice.
