Let's make one thing clear. I'm not advocating firing Coach McDermott, but I know there is a large contingency of fans who want him gone, as well as offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. My worry in moving on from him is you risk ruining everything, including the winning culture. Fans seem to believe that hiring a new coach will magically resolve everything and instantly means winning a Super Bowl.
I was around for the Music City Miracle, which cost special teams coach Bruce DeHaven's job. A year later, head coach Wade Phillips was let go and what transpired was years of less than mediocre play and missed playoffs for 17 years. Let's not make the same mistake here but I would be wrong to not acknowledge it could work out still but it's just not a risk I'd be willing to take.
I will add this though, if the Bills don't make the playoffs and continue to falter this season, I can't sit here and say I wouldn't be willing to entertain this idea of moving on. However, the struggles this team is experiencing right now, are not solely on the shoulders of McDermott or Dorsey. Football is the greatest team sport in the world. It takes the coaches, the players, and the front office to win a Super Bowl and the struggles are just as much on the players as it is on the coaches.
With all that said, I decided to dive into some of the possible candidates to replace Coach McDermott (or possibly Dorsey). From what I've seen and heard, most fans want a proven offensive mind at the helm. If the Bills do decide to fire Coach McDermott, here are my top five offensive-minded head coach candidates.
Current NFL offensive coordinators that are will be head coach candidates in 2024
Todd Monken - Offensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens
Todd Monken entered his first season with the Baltimore Ravens this year and has helped create a new offensive identity for the Ravens. An identity that is currently ranked sixth in the NFL for total yards and has Lamar Jackson once again in the conversation for league MVP. The Ravens are also first in rushing and sixth in points per game. Not too bad for being year one. It would be interesting to see what he could do with an offensive roster as talented as the Bills.
Before this year, Monken helped lead the Georgia Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022. Before that, he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016 to 2019 and led the league twice in passing yards, with the arms of Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick. The fact that he's designed a run game that leads the league this season and previously designed passing games that led the league in yards as well, shows his ability to adapt to the talent, rather than trying to force a specific style.
Eric Bienemy - Offensive Coordinator, Washington Commanders
Eric Bienemy no doubt left the Kansas City Chiefs to get out from under the massive shadow of both Head Coach Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. The Washington Commanders are currently ranked 17th in yards per game but he doesn't have the same level of talent in Washington. Could he do in Buffalo what Reid has done in Kansas City? It would definitely add another layer to the rivalry that has developed over the last few years between the Bills and Chiefs.
It is somewhat interesting that the Chiefs offense has seemingly taken a step back this season without Bienemy but how much of that is due to the lack of wide receivers in Kansas City? But you could say the Chiefs weren't exactly loaded at wide receiver last year either and yet they won a Super Bowl while scoring 38 points against one of the best defenses last year. Regardless, Bienemy no doubt learned a few things from Coach Reid, and might be interesting to see those at work in Buffalo with Josh Allen.
Kellen Moore - Offensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Chargers
I may be somewhat biased here, given my residence is in the Boise area and I watched Kellen Moore's collegiate career, as Boise State dominated opponents. But even still, Moore is destined to be a head coach in the NFL and was almost a head coach back here in Boise, before Jerry Jones called him back to Dallas. If the Bills ever hired Moore to be their next head coach, this is one that I could not be mad about.
The offensive numbers in Los Angeles haven't been on top of the league but the Chargers have also been dealing with several injuries on that side of the ball with Austin Ekeler missing time, Mike Williams, and Josh Palmer too. While Moore was with Dallas, they were one of the top units in the league. Given a healthy group, Moore has proven his offensive prowess. I would love to see what he could do with Josh Allen and the talent on the Bills roster.
Offensive-minded college coach that could lead the Buffalo Bills in 2024
Ryan Grubb - Offensive Coordinator, Washington
Ryan Grubb first became an offensive coordinator at the high school level for his al-mater and was named Iowa High School Assistant of the Year in 2004. He joined the coaching staff at Sioux Falls and was their offensive coordinator over his last four seasons there. He eventually ended up in Fresno State and became their offensive coordinator in 2019.
In 2021, he was hired by the Washington Huskies in December of that year. In his first season with the Huskies, Washington finished first nationally in yards per game, first downs, and third down conversion. They were also second in total offense and seventh in scoring. So far in 2023, the Huskies are fourth in yards per game, number one in passing yards per game, and fourth in points per game. He helped develop Michael Penix Jr. into one of the best quarterbacks and likely a top-ten selection in next year's draft.
Mike Denbrock - Offensive Coordinator, LSU
Mike Denbrock first became an offensive coordinator in 2014 with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish under head coach Brian Kelly. Denbrock was known for being a great tight ends coach, having developed both NFL tight ends Tyler Eifert and Kyle Rudolph. The addition of Denbrock would certainly benefit the growth of Dalton Kincaid.
In 2017, Denbrock joined the coaching staff at the University of Cincinnati, helping lead the Bearcats to the College Football Playoffs in 2021. Following that 2021 season, he was hired by Brian Kelly again, joining the staff at LSU. This season, the Tigers are tops in college football in total offensive yards and top ten in both passing and rushing yards per game. They rank third in points per game, averaging over 45 points.
Lincoln Riley - Head Coach, USC
Lincoln Riley first got into coaching in 2003 as a student assistant under the late Mike Leach at Texas Tech, where he learned the nuances of Leach's famed Air Raid offense. Riley remained with the Red Raiders until 2009 and joined East Carolina as their offensive coordinator in 2010, where he continued his coaching career until becoming OC for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2015 and later their head coach in 2017.
During his time with the Sooners, he compiled a 55 - 10 record, the highest winning percentage in Oklahoma history. He's helped develop some of the best quarterbacks we've seen at the collegiate level, two of whom one Heisman Awards with Riley, including Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. He also mentored another quarterback you may have heard of Jalen Hurts.
Riley is now the head coach with the USC Trojans, taking that role in 2022, where he now leads another terrific college quarterback, Caleb Williams, and likely the top pick in next year's NFL Draft. USC is currently third in total offense, fifth in passing yards per game, and second in the country in scoring, averaging over 45 points per game.