With the Buffalo Bills’ decision to fire head coach Sean McDermott on Monday, the search is on for newly promoted President of Football Operations and general manager Brandon Beane to find his replacement. The Bills are one of 10 teams set to change head coaches ahead of next season, with only two positions filled so far.
Since the Bills fired McDermott for not getting over the hump in the postseason, the next hire must be ready to give the Bills the extra push they need to get back to the Super Bowl. Buffalo being the latest team, and likely last, to join the NFL’s coaching carousel puts them at a slight disadvantage in that respect. After all, John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski are already off the table.
Still, having Josh Allen in his prime available is sure to be a top selling point to any candidate Beane and the Bills express interest toward. Knowing that Buffalo is positioned to get a top candidate, Bills Mafia is beginning to craft their wish list for the franchise’s next head coach, and one name that used to give them headaches in the AFC East is sure to be on the list.
Robert Saleh a candidate to watch as Buffalo Bills begin coaching search
While there’s certainly a feeling Buffalo could opt for an offensive mind to pair with Allen, there’s no ruling out the possibility of pursuing a top defensive mind like Robert Saleh, who has so far interviewed with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, and the Miami Dolphins. Now that he and the San Francisco 49ers have been eliminated from the postseason, it wouldn’t be at all surprising for Saleh to eventually add the Bills to that list.
Of course, the Bills are quite familiar with Saleh on the field. He spent three seasons and some change with the New York Jets from 2021-24. He was fired in Week 5 of the 2024 season just before the Jets were set to play the Bills on Monday Night Football. The Jets’ lone two wins over the Bills since 2019 came with Saleh as their head coach.
In those games, Saleh’s defense forced five interceptions on Allen, who threw just one touchdown. While Buffalo handled business in the other five meetings, Saleh proved his mettle as a defensive mastermind translates to his head coaching abilities.
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The Aaron Rodgers saga and the consistent failing of the Jets as an organization were ultimately his undoing in New York, but Saleh rebounded in 2025 in his second stint with the 49ers. Injuries plagued their roster the entire season on both sides of the ball, yet Saleh orchestrated the league’s 13th-ranked defense in points allowed, holding seven opponents under 20 points this season.
Sean McDermott’s final Bills defense ranked one spot ahead of Saleh’s Niners in points allowed. While the unit ranked tops in the league against the pass, the inconsistencies against the run led to a 28th-place finish. If Saleh were to take over the defense, he’d have to keep in mind that veterans like Joey Bosa, Matt Milano, Shaq Thompson and Tre’Davious White are all set to become free agents. And while Beane will try to work his magic with some contract restructures, the Bills offseason begins strapped tight against the cap.
Naturally, Saleh won’t be at the top of every Bills fan’s wishlist, but he is a name to keep a watchful eye on. Saleh has an in-person interview with the Titans on Monday and interviewed with Baltimore on Sunday. Of course, now that the Bills have an opening, many top candidates like Saleh will have a chance to explore one of the few openings that challenge Baltimore and Pittsburgh as the top available jobs.