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5 replacements for Rex Ryan with Buffalo Bills

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:29 p.m. ET

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The Buffalo Bills are reportedly going to move on from head coach Rex Ryan here shortly. Here are five head coaching candidates for the Bills in 2017.

It was only a matter of time, but it seems very apparent that the Buffalo Bills will be moving on from head coach Rex Ryan this offseason. Buffalo has yet to make the AFC Playoffs since the 199 NFL season and Ryan has been more of a distraction than anything in Orchard Park for the Bills the last two seasons.

Ryan is a great players’ coach and defensive mind. However, his desire to win the press conference on Thursday instead of the game on Sunday has worn out the Pegula Family in Western New York. Buffalo continues to be a defense-first team with head coach that doesn’t seem to care about the offensive side of the ball.

Should the Bills move on from Ryan in the coming days, here are five replacements Buffalo should look to target as its next head coach for the 2017 NFL season.

Nov 5, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes assistant coach Greg Schiano during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes lead 62-3 in the fourth quarter. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Schiano

Defensive Coordinator, Ohio State Buckeyes

Greg Schiano may decide to stay in Columbus for at least the 2017 NCAA season with the Ohio State Buckeyes, but one has to believe that the former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be a head coach again one day soon, college or pro.

Schiano had been out of football the last two years after getting fired by the Buccaneers at the end of the 2013 NFL season. He had only been in Tampa Bay for two years, but was arguably the greatest head coach in Rutgers Scarlet Knights football history before leaving for the NFL.

It was strange to not see Schiano get a head coaching gig in college for the 2017 season. From the looks of it, he’s okay with being Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator for another season in Columbus. He’ll be the full-time defensive coordinator there now that Luke Fickell to the head coaching job with the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Schiano would be an interesting fit with the Bills. He can win with defense and is a great motivator of players. That could translate well in Western New York with his coaching style. The problem is that he may not be able to attract the right offensive personnel in his would-be coaching staff to get Buffalo over the hump and into the AFC Playoffs. Schiano would bring all the best qualities of Ryan without the constant press conference headaches.

Dec 29, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan during the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Shanahan

Former Head Coach, Washington Redskins

Like Schiano, Mike Shanahan has been out of the NFL since the 2013 season, but would make for a viable head coaching candidate in Buffalo. Shanahan last coached with the 2013 Washington Redskins and would be the rare head coaching candidate to get a third shot leading a franchise.

Shanahan is an elite offensive mind, especially in the running game. His family’s zone blocking scheme is almost full proof. Shanahan’s son Kyle Shanahan has become a strong offensive coordinator in the NFL over the last decade with several teams. One could think that Shanahan could join his dad in Western New York should he get the coaching gig.

The Shanahans know what they are doing in terms of offensive game planning and drafting players on that side of the ball. Buffalo hasn’t had an elite offensive mind since Jim Kelly was running the K-Gun offense under Marv Levy in the early 1990s.

Shanahan is 64 years old and may not want to be a head coach again. It would take the right situation to get him back into the NFL. Buffalo isn’t the best landing spot for him, but he could get the job if he really feels a calling for leading the Western New York NFL franchise.

Jan 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Todd Haley

Offensive Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers

While he may still have some egg on his face from the disastrous end to his tenure as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley is ready for his next head coaching gig. Buffalo would be an outstanding fit for he and the organization.

Since floundering with the Chiefs in 2011, Haley has reinvented himself as a great offensive coordinator for the Steelers since 2012. At first, he and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t get off to the best of starts. Five years later, Pittsburgh has one of the most balanced offenses in football.

Haley has helped make the Steelers into one of the most explosive offenses in football. Pittsburgh is a cold-weather city in a cold-weather division. Buffalo falls into that category as well. Should Haley put together a solid coaching staff, he could be that great coach Buffalo has been looking for these last several years.

Haley would have to like LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins, and many of the Bills offensive linemen. However, how he feels about Tyrod Taylor at quarterback would go a long way in if he decides to accept the job if offered.

Jul 31, 2015; Pittsford, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running backs coach Anthony Lynn instructs Karlos Williams (40) during training camp at St. John Fisher College. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Lynn

Offensive Coordinator, Buffalo Bills

For as chaotic as the Bills have been at times in 2016, one thing that the organization can hang its hat on is that promoting Anthony Lynn to offensive coordinator was a great idea. Buffalo decided to pull the plug on former offensive coordinator Greg Roman after Week 2’s loss to the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.

Lynn was promoted to offensive coordinator, despite never being a professional play caller. He was the Bills running backs coach, but has developed a great offensive attack in Buffalo to keep them near .500 for most of the season.

Lynn devised a game plan to use the best of both Taylor and McCoy’s abilities as offensive weapons. Using the run to open up the pass has been kind to Buffalo on offense. Remember that No. 1 receiver Sammy Watkins missed most of the season due to injury. Lynn found a way to make this Bills offense hum despite key losses in terms of personnel.

Promoting Lynn to head coach may not be a bad move for the Bills organization to make. He seems to have a great understanding with how to play winning football in Buffalo. Lynn has been a head coaching candidate in recent years. He may leave for another job if the Bills don’t promote him. Lynn is a guy the Bills have to consider for the potential head coaching vacancy in Buffalo.

Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith looks on prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Smith

Defensive Coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The best reach candidate the Bills need to strive for is Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith. Whomever hires Smith as its head football coach in 2017 probably wins the NFL coaching carousel.

Smith spent seven years as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (2008-14). He guided Atlanta to the NFC Playoffs four times and saw his 2012 Falcons team reach the NFC Championship. Smith took a year off from coaching before joining Dirk Koetter’s staff in Tampa Bay this season.

It took a little while, but Smith has the Buccaneers playing at a ridiculously high level defensively. Keep in mind that he comes from the Brian Billick coaching tree in Baltimore, who happens to be his brother-in-law. Smith was an elite defensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars before arriving in Atlanta.

Buffalo will have to claw tooth and nail to not let Smith go to Jacksonville. Smith is not just a great defensive schemer, he is an elite players’ coach and locker room motivator. What makes him the best coaching candidate nobody is talking about is that he usually aligns himself with great offensive coaches. In Atlanta, Bill Musgrave, Mike Mularkey, Terry Robiskie, and Koetter all served under him.

If the Bills land Smith, then they have a chance to orchestrate a deep playoff run in the AFC. The problem is that Smith may choose a better job over Buffalo this offseason. Buffalo would be third for Smith behind Jacksonville and Los Angeles, in all honesty.