BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The Bills confirmed a handful of additions to their coaching staff ahead of the 2025 NFL Combine.
Veteran coach Chris Tabor was named special teams coordinator, replacing Matthew Smiley. Head coach Sean McDermott also hired Ryan Nielsen as senior defensive assistant, Jason Rebrovich as assistant defensive line coach, and Mike Pellegrino to coach nickel cornerbacks.
Tabor, who turns 54 in early March, has 13 seasons of experience as an NFL special teams coordinator with the Browns, Bears and Panthers, and also served as the Panthers interim head coach for six games in 2023. He coached in the college ranks for a decade prior to making the jump to the pros.
Replacing Smiley was a cause for consternation earlier this offseason, as McDermott initially pledged support to his longtime coordinator before reversing course and firing him less than two weeks later. McDermott address the perceived flip flop Monday at the Combine.
“I know what I said after the season there. For me it’s wanting to take my time to go through it, and making sure that I fully evaluate the position but also where we need to go with that position,” McDermott said.
The Bills special teams unit is ripe for improvement after some poorly timed miscues over the past two seasons, including one that lost them a game in Week 10 of the 2023 season. They fell to 5-5 that year after a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty gave the Broncos another chance at a game-winning field goal, which they converted from 36 yards out to win 24-22 after missing from 41.
Nielsen is a former defensive coordinator who spent a year in the role with the Jaguars and Falcons. He spent six years working his way up the defensive coaching ranks with the Saints, starting as offensive line coach, following a decade coaching at the college level.
Rebrovich is a Clarence native who also spent time with the Bills from 2013-16. Pellegrino was a college lacrosse star who spent a decade on the Patriots coaching staff.