Bills lose defensive coach to Liam Coen's Jaguars staff

The Buffalo Bills experienced their first coaching departure of what projects to be a quiet offseason.

Assistant Defensive Line Coach Matt Edwards runs a drill with pads with the players during Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, NY on Aug. 5, 2024. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Buffalo Bills will have at least one vacancy on their coaching staff this offseason.

While no changes are expected at the offensive, defensive or special teams coordinator spots, Buffalo is losing assistant defensive line coach Matt Edwards to the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to a report from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Jaguars have tabbed Edwards as their new primary defensive line coach.

“I'm extremely confident the people that are behind me and behind these walls," said Bills' head coach Sean McDermott four days after the season-ending loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 2024 campaign marks Edwards's lone season with the Bills. He joined the team after Eric Washington left for the Chicago Bears' DC role during the previous coaching cycle. Buffalo promoted assistant defensive line coach Marcus West to take over for Washington, subsequently filling West's old spot by adding Edwards.

Jul 27, 2023; Rochester NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) blocks with assistant defensive line coach Marcus West during training camp | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The Bills' defensive line seemingly experienced a drop in performance following Washington's departure. While Buffalo fell to No. 17 overall in total defense, their sack percentage (6.75) slipped to 23rd out of 32 teams.

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With Liam Coen taking the reins in Jacksonville, Edwards returns to the AFC South division where he spent his first four NFL seasons (2018-21). Following two years with the Las Vegas Raiders (2022-23), the former Miami (OH) captain landed in Buffalo for a brief stay.

In terms of filling the void, a replacement will likely come from outside of the organization. As for the personnel up front, the Bills could benefit from upgrades on the interior and on the edge. Defensive tackles Austin Johnson, Jordan Phillips and Quinton Jefferson will be unrestricted free agents along with rotational defensive ends Dawuane Smoot and Casey Toohill.

Bills Assistant Defensive Line Coach Matt Edwards and Ed Oliver work on a drill at Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, NY on Aug. 5, 2024. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

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