Buffalo Bills make a surprising move to try and fix the one thing that has constantly caused them issues in recent years
For a minute, it felt like the Buffalo Bills were going to head into 2025 returning all of their coordinators. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady returning was great news for MVP-winner Josh Allen and the growth of the offense, and Bobby Babich back as defensive coordinator is a vote of confidence and belief in progress by […]
For a minute, it felt like the Buffalo Bills were going to head into 2025 returning all of their coordinators. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady returning was great news for MVP-winner Josh Allen and the growth of the offense, and Bobby Babich back as defensive coordinator is a vote of confidence and belief in progress by Sean McDermott. Then there's special teams.
Special team coordinator Matthew Smiley was previously expected to stick with the team heading into next year, but Buffalo has made the decision to make a change on Super Bowl Sunday.
For many Bills fans, it's a change that's long overdue.
Smiley has been with the Bills since 2017 and has served as the special teams coordinator since 2022. On January 30, head coach Sean McDermott told reporters that the team would be bringing Smiley back. Less than two weeks later, the team has changed course.
The Bills absolutely needed a change on special teams. Consistently, the special teams has been the biggest area of weakness on a Bills roster that has MVP Josh Allen at quarterback and a defensive coaching staff that constantly develops and puts unheralded players in the right position to succeed. Few things are more annoying and disheartening than watching Allen drive the field for a touchdown, only for the opposing team to break a long return on the ensuing kickoff. It happened time and time again throughout the season.
Most notably, going against the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card Round, the Bills looked completely unprepared for Denver potentially running a fake punt. On 4th and 8 around midfield, Denver's punter Riley Dixon completed a 15-yard pass to keep the drive alive. At the time, it was a 10-7 game. Denver, the long underdog that outperformed on the season, was going to empty the bag in their first playoff game in years, and Smiley was caught completely unprepared.
Fortunately, the defense stood tall and forced Denver off the field, and Buffalo ended up running away with the game, but that play had every chance of being a massive momentum shifter.
Buffalo will now look to quickly fill the role of special teams coordinator, hoping for a boost in the one phase of the game that has been their biggest issue in recent years.
Follow along all year for more Buffalo Bills coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Bluesky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, and make sure to follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.
