List of Buffalo Bills head coaches

The entrance sign to the home of the Bills, Highmark Stadium (formerly New Era Field and Ralph Wilson Stadium)

The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo, New York metropolitan area. They are members of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills franchise was formed in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL), before joining the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL merger of 1970.[1]

There have been 19 head coaches for the Bills franchise. Buster Ramsey became the first head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 1960, serving for two seasons before being fired by Bills owner Ralph Wilson after the 1961 season.[2] In terms of tenure, Marv Levy has coached more games (182) and seasons (12) than any other coach in franchise history. He coached the Bills to four straight AFC Championships from 1990 to 1993, but failed to lead the team to a victory in the Super Bowl. One of Levy's predecessors, Lou Saban, who coached the team on two occasions, led the team to the victories in the AFL championship in 1964 and 1965. Three Bills coaches—Saban, Levy and Chuck Knox—have been named coach of the year by at least one major news organization.[3] Levy and Jim Ringo are the only Bills coaches to have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

There have been six "interim" head coaches in Bills history. First, in 1968, head coach Joe Collier was fired two games into the season and replaced by Bills personnel director Harvey Johnson.[4] Johnson did not serve as head coach the following season. Then, five games into the 1976 season, Saban unexpectedly resigned as head coach. He was replaced by Ringo, the team's offensive line coach.[5] Ringo returned to coach the team again in the 1977 season. In October 1985, Kay Stephenson was fired and replaced by assistant head coach Hank Bullough.[5] Just over a year later, Bullough was himself fired and replaced by Marv Levy, who had previously served as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.[6] Levy would then serve as Bills head coach for the next 12 seasons. In 2016, Anthony Lynn replaced Rex Ryan for the final game of the season.

Following Levy's retirement, the Bills experienced limited success under a series of successive head coaches. Wade Phillips, the Bills defensive coordinator for the last three years under Levy, took over head coaching duties for the 1998 season. Phillips served as head coach for three seasons, making the playoffs in his first two (He was the last coach to lead the Bills to the playoffs until Sean McDermott became coach in 2017).[7] After Phillips' departure following the 2000 season, Gregg Williams was named head coach.[8] Williams served as coach for three seasons. At the end of the 2003 season, Williams' contract was not renewed.[9] Mike Mularkey was named as the new head coach for the 2004 season,[8] leading the Bills to their first winning season since 1999. The Bills experienced less success under Mularkey during 2005, and Mularkey resigned as head coach at the completion of the 2005 season.[9] The Bills then named Dick Jauron as their head coach for the 2006 season.[8] Jauron was the first coach since Phillips' dismissal with prior head coaching experience, having previously served as head coach of the Chicago Bears and interim head coach of the Detroit Lions. Jauron coached the Bills to three consecutive 7–9 seasons before being fired on November 17, 2009, nine games into the 2009 season. Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell was named as the interim head coach, going 3–4 to finish out the season before all of the Bills coaching staff was fired on January 4, 2010. On January 19, 2010, the Bills named Chan Gailey as their next head coach; Gailey was fired on December 31, 2012.[10] In January 2013, Doug Marrone was appointed.[11] He exercised his option to leave in January 2015 following the change of ownership to Kim and Terrence Pegula and was replaced by Rex Ryan.[12] Rex Ryan was fired from the team on December 27, 2016.[13] Anthony Lynn served as interim head coach until January 11, when the team hired Sean McDermott to serve in the role on a permanent basis.[14]

## Key

[edit]

# | Number of coaches [A]

|

GC | Games coached
W | Wins
L | Losses
T | Ties
Win% | Winning percentage [B]
00†  | Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach
00‡  | Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player
00*  | Spent entire AFL/NFL head coaching career with the Bills
00**  | Two coaching tenures for Lou Saban
00^  | Two coaching tenures for Harvey Johnson

## Coaches

[edit]

Note: Statistics are correct as of end of the 2023 NFL season.
#  | Image  | Name  | Term[N 1] | Regular season  | Playoffs  | Accomplishments  | Ref.

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Yrs  | First  | Last  | GC  | W  | L  | T  | Win%  | GC  | W  | L
1  |  | Buster Ramsey*  | 2  | 1960 | 1961 | 28  | 11  | 16  | 1  | .411  | —  |  | [15]
2  |  | Lou Saban | 4  | 1962 | 1965 | 56  | 36  | 17  | 3  | .670  | 3  | 2  | 1  | 2 AFL Championships (1964, 1965)
3 AFL playoff berths
2 UPI AFL Coach of the Year Awards (1964, 1965) | [16]
3  |  | Joe Collier*  | 3  | 1966 | 1968[N 2] | 30  | 13  | 16  | 1  | .450  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 1 AFL playoff berth | [17]
4  |  | Harvey Johnson | 1  | 1968[N 2] | 12  | 1  | 10  | 1  | .125  | —  |  | [18]
5  |  | John Rauch | 2  | 1969 | 1970 | 28  | 7  | 20  | 1  | .268  | —  |  | [19]
–  |  | Harvey Johnson | 1  | 1971 | 14  | 1  | 13  | 0  | .071  | —  |  | [18]
–  |  | Lou Saban | 5  | 1972 | 1976[N 3] | 61  | 32  | 28  | 1  | .533  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 1 Playoff berth | [16]
6  |  | Jim Ringo ‡ | 2  | 1976[N 3] | 1977 | 23  | 3  | 20  | 0  | .130  | —  |  | [20]
7  |  | Chuck Knox | 5  | 1978 | 1982 | 73  | 37  | 36  | 0  | .507  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 1 AFC East Championship (1980)
2 Playoff berths
1 AP NFL Coach of the Year Award (1980)
1 Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year Award (1980)
1 Pro Football Weekly NFL Coach of the Year Award (1980) | [21]
8  |  | Kay Stephenson*  | 3  | 1983 | 1985[N 4] | 36  | 10  | 26  | 0  | .278  | —  |  | [22]
9  |  | Hank Bullough | 2  | 1985[N 4] | 1986[N 5] | 21  | 4  | 17  | 0  | .190  | —  |  | [23]
10  |  | Marv Levy † | 12  | 1986[N 5] | 1997 | 182  | 112  | 70  | 0  | .615  | 19  | 11  | 8  | Inducted Pro Football Hall of Fame (2001)
4 AFC Championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
6 AFC East Championships (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995)
8 Playoff berths
1 Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year Award (1988)
2 UPI NFL Coach of the Year Awards (1988, 1993) | [24]
11  |  | Wade Phillips | 3  | 1998 | 2000 | 48  | 29  | 19  | 0  | .604  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 2 Playoff berths | [25]
12  |  | Gregg Williams | 3  | 2001 | 2003 | 48  | 17  | 31  | 0  | .354  | —  |  | [26]
13  |  | Mike Mularkey | 2  | 2004 | 2005 | 32  | 14  | 18  | 0  | .438  | —  |  | [27]
14  |  | Dick Jauron | 4  | 2006 | 2009[N 6] | 57  | 24  | 33  | 0  | .421  | —  |  | [28]
15  |  | Perry Fewell | 1  | 2009[N 6] | 7  | 3  | 4  | 0  | .429  | —  |  | [29]
16  |  | Chan Gailey | 3  | 2010 | 2012 | 48  | 16  | 32  | 0  | .333  | —  |  | [30]
17  |  | Doug Marrone | 2  | 2013 | 2014 | 32  | 15  | 17  | 0  | .469  | —  |  | [31]
18  |  | Rex Ryan | 2  | 2015 | 2016[N 7] | 31  | 15  | 16  | 0  | .484  | —  |  | [32]
19  |  | Anthony Lynn | 1  | 2016[N 7] | 1  | 0  | 1  | 0  | .000  | —  |  | [33]
20  |  | Sean McDermott*  | 7  | 2017 | 2023 | 114  | 73  | 41  | 0  | .640  | 11  | 5  | 6  | 4 AFC East Championships (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
6 Playoff berths | [34]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Each year is linked to an article about that particular NFL season.
2. ^ a b The Bills fired coach Joe Collier after an 0–2 start in 1968. Defensive backfield coach Harvey Johnson was promoted to interim head coach, where he went 1–10–1 to finish the year.
3. ^ a b Bills head coach Lou Saban resigned after the fifth game of the season, with the Bills struggling at 2–3. Offensive line coach Jim Ringo took over, but would not win a game for the rest of the year.
4. ^ a b Head coach Kay Stephenson was fired after an 0–4 start. Defensive coordinator Hank Bullough took over, going 2–10 for the remainder of the season.
5. ^ a b After a 6-point Week Nine loss to Tampa Bay, the Bills fired coach Hank Bullough, and hired former Kansas City coach Marv Levy to replace him.
6. ^ a b Dick Jauron was fired on November 17 after a 3–6 start and replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
7. ^ a b After a 34–31 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 eliminated the Bills from playoff contention for a 17th season in a row, Rex Ryan was fired. Anthony Lynn lead the team as interim head coach in final match.

## References

[edit]

General

* "Buffalo Bills Team History". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
* "History Main Page – Buffalo Bills". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.

Specific

1. ^ "NFL History by Decade: 1961–1970". NFL.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
2. ^ "The Month of January In Bills History". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on January 13, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
3. ^ Hickok, Ralph (April 17, 2008). "NFL Coach of the Year Award". Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
4. ^ "The Month of September In Bills History". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
5. ^ a b "The Month of October In Bills History". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
6. ^ "The Month of November In Bills History". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
7. ^ "Dallas Cowboys Head Coach". NFL.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
8. ^ a b c "Buffalo Bills History". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
9. ^ a b "Fewell picked to replace Jauron as Bills coach". Associated Press. Retrieved November 18, 2009.[dead link]
10. ^ "Chan Gailey relieved of duties as head coach". Buffalo Bills. NFL Enterprises LLC. December 31, 2012. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
11. ^ Garafolo, Mike (January 6, 2013). "Bills hire Syracuse's Doug Marrone". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
12. ^ "Rex Ryan named Buffalo Bills head coach". Buffalo Bills. January 12, 2015. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
13. ^ "Bills Announce Coaching Changes". Buffalo Bills. Retrieved December 27, 2016.[permanent dead link]
14. ^ "Buffalo Bills agree to hire Sean McDermott". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 12, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
15. ^ "Buster Ramsey Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
16. ^ a b "Lou Saban Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
17. ^ "Joe Collier Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 3, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
18. ^ a b "Harvey Johnson Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
19. ^ "John Rauch Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
20. ^ "Jim Ringo Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
21. ^ "Chuck Knox Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
22. ^ "Kay Stephenson Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 21, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
23. ^ "Hank Bullough Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
24. ^ "Marv Levy Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
25. ^ "Wade Phillips Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
26. ^ "Gregg Williams Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
27. ^ "Mike Mularkey Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
28. ^ "Dick Jauron Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 4, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
29. ^ "Perry Fewell Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 12, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
30. ^ "Chan Gailey Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
31. ^ "Doug Marrone Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
32. ^ "Rex Ryan Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
33. ^ "Anthony Lynn Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
34. ^ "Sean McDermott Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.

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Buffalo Bills

* Founded in 1960
* Based and headquartered in Orchard Park, New York

Franchise|

* Franchise
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Culture|

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Lore|

* Electric Company
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Rivalries|

* Kansas City Chiefs
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Division championships (14)|

* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1980
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1993
* 1995
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Conference championships (4)|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993

League championships (2)|

* 1964
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Wall of Fame|

* Simpson
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Owners|

* Ralph Wilson
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Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League (1970–present)
* Conference: American Football Conference
* Division: East Division

Former league affiliation|

* League: American Football League (1960–1969)

* Category
* Commons

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Buffalo Bills head coaches

* Buster Ramsey (1960–1961)
* Lou Saban (1962–1965)
* Joe Collier (1966–1968)
* Harvey Johnson # (1968)
* John Rauch (1969–1970)
* Harvey Johnson (1971)
* Lou Saban (1972–1976)
* Jim Ringo (1976–1977)
* Chuck Knox (1978–1982)
* Kay Stephenson (1983–1985)
* Hank Bullough (1985–1986)
* Marv Levy (1986–1997)
* Wade Phillips (1998–2000)
* Gregg Williams (2001–2003)
* Mike Mularkey (2004–2005)
* Dick Jauron (2006–2009)
* Perry Fewell # (2009)
* Chan Gailey (2010–2012)
* Doug Marrone (2013–2014)
* Rex Ryan (2015–2016)
* Anthony Lynn # (2016)
* Sean McDermott (2017–present)

# denotes interim head coach

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NFL head coaches

American Football Conference

| AFC East| AFC North| AFC South| AFC West

|
|
|

* Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills)
* Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins)
* Jerod Mayo (New England Patriots)
* Robert Saleh (New York Jets)

* John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens)
* Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals)
* Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns)
* Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers)

* DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans)
* Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts)
* Doug Pederson (Jacksonville Jaguars)
* Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans)

* Sean Payton (Denver Broncos)
* Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs)
* Antonio Pierce (Las Vegas Raiders)
* Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers)

National Football Conference

| NFC East| NFC North| NFC South| NFC West

|
|
|

* Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys)
* Brian Daboll (New York Giants)
* Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles)
* Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders)

* Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears)
* Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)
* Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)
* Kevin O'Connell (Minnesota Vikings)

* Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons)
* Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers)
* Dennis Allen (New Orleans Saints)
* Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

* Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals)
* Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams)
* Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers)
* Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks)

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