After a surprising decision to part ways with special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley during Super Bowl Sunday, the Buffalo Bills and head coach Sean McDermott have quickly found his replacement.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Chris Tabor has been named the next special teams coordinator in Buffalo. Tabor is returning to employment in the NFL after taking the 2024 season off:
Bills are hiring former Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor as their special teams coordinator, per source. Tabor spent last season out of the NFL and now returns in Buffalo. pic.twitter.com/kaw6Ys1Zio
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 11, 2025
The update to fire Smiley appeared to be timed as a news dump during the Big Game.
The reason for that might be because of McDermott’s commentary on Smiley at his end-of-season press conference. During that, McDermott directly said “yes” Smiley will return to the Bills in 2025.
Now it’s Tabor gig.
Tabor, 53, is an experienced special teams coach in the NFL and he has a stint as the interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers on his resume. That was his most-recent position in the league after being promoted from special teams coordinator. Tabor had a 1-5 record and replaced Frank Reich as head coach at that time.
Tabor was the ST coordinator in Carolina from 2022-23. He has also held various special teams coaching roles with the Chicago Bears (2008-10, 2018-21) and Cleveland Browns (2011-17).
Smiley being replaced was not all the shocking, it only was because of McDermott’s backing. The Bills’ special teams unit struggled last year, highlighted by struggles from kicker Tyler Bass.
In 2023, Tabor was ranked as the NFL’s No. 2 special teams coordinator by the NFLPA.
Bills Wire will provide updates on the team throughout the offseason.