Veteran defensive line coach Mike Waufle announced his retirement Monday and the Bills promoted from within to replace him.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
It was an impressive 20-year career in the NFL, but Mike Waufle’s 2017 campaign with the Bills will be his last. The veteran defensive line coach announced his retirement Monday.
A Hornell, New York native, Waufle returned to his roots in 2017 with the Bills after 19 previous seasons in the NFL, with stops with the Giants, Rams and two separate stints with the Raiders.
The highlight of Waufle’s pro-coaching career has to be the Super Bowl title he won in 2007 when as defensive line coach for the New York Giants, his group tallied five sacks on Tom Brady in the upset of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Giants also led the league in sacks that season.
Prior to his pro coaching career, Waufle spent 19 years in the college ranks.
Waufle is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran after he served four years following his high school graduation.
The team also announced that assistant defensive line coach Bill Teerlinck has been promoted to serve as the Bills new defensive line coach. Teerlinck previously spent three seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Nevada (2014-2016).
Aaron Whitecotton has been named assistant defensive line coach after serving in 2017 as the administrative assistant to the head coach.
Wood makes statement
There were teammates current and former in attendance Monday afternoon, in addition to family and friends, as Eric Wood confirmed his playing career was over after team doctors discovered a dangerous condition in his neck. Wood read from a written statement in which he explained when the injury was discovered and where things go from here.
“Dr. (Andrew) Cappuccino has informed me that I will no longer be able to play football given the neck injury. Even with further treatment, rehab or surgery a return is not possible. After the season as part of the exit physical we got an MRI that revealed a disc that was dangerously close to my spinal cord at C2 and C3 and that was alarming.
“As you can imagine this news floored me as I was just days removed from the first playoff game of my career. Although I will no longer be cleared to play football I am still on the Bills roster and look forward to helping out the team in some capacity.”
Bills GM Brandon Beane confirmed that the club is working out the proper designation for Wood on the roster that works for all parties involved.
“It’s tough. There are all sorts of things when you’re doing roster management and that,” said Beane. “He’ll stay on the roster for now and he’ll figure out what the best tactic is for the Buffalo Bills as we move forward. We’re a long way from figuring out where we’re going.”
Wood didn’t take any questions after delivering his two-minute statement, but plans to provide clarity in the future.
“I’m sure there are a lot of unanswered questions and I hope to address those at a later date,” he said.
Among those in attendance to support Wood at the close of a nine-year playing career were current teammates Lorenzo Alexander, LeSean McCoy, Jordan Mills, and Kyle Williams. Former teammates Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geoff Hangartner, Garrison Sanborn, and Kraig Urbik were also on hand.