We will be updating this coaching candidate list as the team confirms interviews providing a thumbnail sketch on each potential hire.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
This will be the comprehensive list of head coaching candidates for the Buffalo Bills as confirmed by the club. It will be updated as each interview with a candidate is validated by the team. Below we provide some details on each candidate’s coaching career including some of their most notable successes.
Candidate: Harold Goodwin
Interviewed: January 7th
Age: 44
Most recent position: Offensive coordinator Arizona Cardinals (2013-present)
Accomplishments:
Helped take the league’s 32nd ranked offense in 2012 to first in the league in three seasons. In 2015 Arizona’s offense also set single season records for points (489), touchdowns (59) and total net yards (6,533).
Coached the offensive line in Indianapolis in 2012 in front of rookie Andrew Luck guiding the unit to a top 10 finish.
He was part of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl XLIII winning staff as an offensive assistant. Goodwin worked directly with rookie C Maurkice Pouncey helping him earn Pro Bowl and All-Rookie team honors.
The book on Goodwin
He has worked under Arizona head coach Bruce Arians for the last 10 years in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and now Arizona. Though he has been the Cardinals offensive coordinator, Arians still called the plays.
Goodwin’s specialty on offense has been offensive line play and run game coordination as he was a former offensive lineman himself. Arians expanded his role in 2016 to include preseason installations, practice scripts and relaying plays into the quarterback.
Known as a good developer of offensive line talent.
He interviewed for the Tampa Bay head coaching job last offseason, and has interviewed for the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching post.
Coaching influences: Bruce Arians, Lovie Smith, Mike Tomlin, Gary Moeller
Playing experience: Played guard at the University of Michigan (1992-1994), but a knee injury prematurely ended his career.
Candidate: Anthony Lynn
Interviewed: January 5th
Age: 48
Most recent position: Interim head coach Buffalo Bills (2016)
Accomplishments:
Took over a Bills offense as coordinator in Week 3 and was instrumental in leading the unit to a top 10 ranking in points per game, the team’s first since 2004. Also helped the offense repeat as the number one rushing team in the NFL, becoming only the third team to accomplish the feat in the last 20 years.
Candidate: Sean McDermott
Interviewed: January 4th
Age: 42
Most recent position: Defensive coordinator Carolina Panthers (2011-2016)
Accomplishments:
Had a four-year stretch (2012-2015) in which his defensive unit finished in the top 10 in total defense.
In 2015 his unit led the NFL in takeaways (39) was second in yards allowed per play, fourth against the run, sixth in points allowed and sixth in total defense in the Panthers run to the Super Bowl.
In 2013 was named Sporting News Coordinator of the Year. Defense finished second in the league, led the league in sacks (60) and finished second in points allowed per game (15.1).