It’s been rumored that the Buffalo Bills are searching for an offensive-minded head coach to succeed Sean McDermott and help reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen lead the Bills to the Super Bowl.
One of the names linked to the Bills’ head coaching vacancy was former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, widely recognized as one of the most creative play designers in the league. McDaniel was reported to be interviewing in Florida on Friday for Buffalo’s head coaching opening.
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But instead of meeting with co-owner Terry Pegula, president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane and the rest of Buffalo’s front office brass, McDaniel decided to cancel his interview, according to a team source.
It was reported that McDaniel and One Bills Drive ““remain in contact for a potential interview,” per Jordan Schultz.
After backing out of his scheduled Bills interview, McDaniel is expected to become the Los Angeles Chargers’ next offensive coordinator, if he does not land any of the other five head coaching vacancies, according to reporting from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Teaming Allen with McDaniel, who had instant success in South Beach transforming quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins into one of the NFL’s most explosive and innovative offenses, would have made a lot of sense for Buffalo’s next head coach. McDaniel went 35-33 with a pair of playoff appearances in four seasons leading the Dolphins, including a 34-31 loss to the Bills in the Wild Card round of the 2022 NFL season, his first with Miami.
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But McDaniel failed to replicate the offensive success from his first two seasons and was dismissed by the Dolphins after going 15-19 in 2024 and 2025.
The team has already conducted two interviews with offensive-minded head coaching candidates — current offensive coordinator Joe Brady and former New York Giants head coach/former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll — and has an interview scheduled today with current Washington Commanders run game coordinator Anthony Lynn, and on Sunday with current Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski.
