'I Don't Want To Wait!' Former Bills Coach John Butler Reveals Reason for Departure
The Buffalo Bills didn’t give former defensive backs coach John Butler any shortage of reasons to step away.
Head coach Sean McDermott – who found himself entrenched in controversy about pre-game speeches gone wrong – has been willing to fire otherwise successful coaches before. He didn’t give him play-calling duties this past season and chose a less-experienced candidate to be the Bills’ next defensive coordinator.
Butler and Buffalo parted ways, ending a six-year stint that left little doubts about the quality of his acumen as a coach. Even so, such a prominent position coach leaving for greener pastures drew suspicion.
Nov 15, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive backs coach John Butler against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
© Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY
In an interview with The Athletic, Butler put those concerns to bed.
“People are probably wondering why a guy who’s had so much production and so many great things to say about the organization is leaving,” Butler said. “There doesn’t have to be a crazy story behind it. I just want to run a defense in the NFL or college football. I want that opportunity, and I don’t want to wait.”
McDermott’s offseason decisions revealed Butler would have to wait a little while longer.
After parting ways with esteemed defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier a year ago, McDermott went into the 2023 season without a true replacement, instead handling additional responsibilities. The Bills’ All-Star cast of defensive position coaches surely played a role in easing that transition, and the league took notice.
Linebacker coach Bobby Babich presided over a unit that exceeded expectations after star Matt Milano suffered a season-ending injury. He became a rising star, netting defensive coordinator interviews outside of Western New York.
Perhaps driven by the fear of losing the next big thing, McDermott promoted Babich to the defensive coordinator position that had been empty for a season. It’s a justifiable hire – there’s a reason Babich was so highly sought after – but it left Butler, 50, in the dust.
He has yet to secure the type of opportunity he left Buffalo for.
“Bobby’s going to do a great job,” Butler said. “It just came down to us both feeling we were qualified to do the job. We both still are. The decision doesn’t change anything.
“But once that decision is made, it’s time for me to see if I can be a coordinator somewhere else. I’m at my best when I’m in charge. I ran the secondary for six years, but there’s a ceiling there.”
Fortunately for Buffalo, this departure had less fanfare than offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey’s mid-season dismissal, and the changes made to the staff have been largely supported.
Amicable, well-reasoned, and notably quiet, the hire has opened the door for Jahmile Addae to step in as cornerbacks coach.
As Buffalo retools its defense, ensuring the defensive infrastructure remains stable under Babich’s purview will be important in an unrelenting AFC.
“I want the best for John,” McDermott said. “He’s been a big part of our success. He’s a great coach. But I also understand John has goals for himself.”
