Top 5 Head Coaches in Buffalo Bills History

The Buffalo Bills have had their fair share of head coaches throughout their history.

Many of them have been disappointing throughout their tenures. However, some coaches have excelled due to their leadership, football IQ, and overall game management. This list will include coaches who have had an impact on the Bills rather than the NFL as a whole.

5. Wade Phillips (1998-2000)

Wade Phillips is one of the oldest coaches in history, still coaching the San Antonio Brahmas at age 77. He had an average career with the Denver Broncos before being hired as the Bills’ defensive coordinator in 1995.

During his three years as coordinator, Phillips put together above-average defenses, and the team ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed in 1996 and 1997. He then succeeded the legendary Marv Levy in 1998, becoming head coach and vice president of football operations.

As a head coach, he had some success, but that success didn’t last long as he couldn’t replicate that result in the playoffs. Phillips had this mentality that everything had to be done his way, which proved to be a bit stubborn. This trait got him fired when Phillips refused to fire Buffalo Bills special teams coach Ronnie Jones, whose special teams were ranked among the bottom of the league.

Ralph Wilson Jr. didn’t want to take on Phillips, because he led the Bills to the playoffs twice in his three years as coach. Wilson believed that if Jones wasn’t fired, the team wouldn’t go anywhere, “but I felt that firing the special teams coach was imperative to the improvement of our team,” Wilson said.

Phillips then went on to become a successful defensive coordinator again, and his biggest accomplishment was building the Broncos’ legendary defense in 2015 and winning their first Super Bowl.

Phillips’ time in Buffalo was forgettable, but successful as the Bills posted a 29-19 record under his leadership. However, he found himself stuck in his ways, leading to his dismissal.

4. Chuck Knox (1978-1982)

After a few terrible years, the Bills hired respected NFL head coach Chuck Knox. Knox took over from then-former head coach Jim Ringo, who did a poor job as head coach, lasting only one season, quitting after leading them to a record from 3-11 in 1977.

Knox’s signing with the Bills was more a response to “the ongoing conflict between him and Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom.” This conflict was due to Knox being pressured to replace his preferred quarterback, James Harris, with backup quarterback Pat Haden.

Knox had great success with the Rams, going 54-15 in the regular season. Knox spent the early 1960s and 1970s as an offensive line coach for the New York Jets and Detroit Lions before joining the Rams.

After slightly improving the Bills’ record to 5-11 in his first year, Knox helped the Bills become big in 1980 and 1981, when the team went 21-11 and reached the playoffs during of these seasons. However, the divisional round was the furthest Knox reached with the Bills, as they lost both years.

Although Knox’s record wasn’t very impressive (37-36), he had a lasting impact on the Bills, helping them regain relevance for a few years.

3. Lou Saban (1962, 65, 1972-76)

Lou Saban was only the second head coach in franchise history and had success with the Bills. He turned the franchise around after the Bills’ first head coach, Buster Ramsey, did nothing for them.

Saban was the first successful coach in Buffalo, as he led them to relevance after the franchise’s 11-16 start in their first two years of existence.

Saban started well with the Bills, posting a 7-6 record in his first season. However, he was responsible for the arrival of Pro Bowler Jack Kemp from the San Diego Chargers, who helped lead the team to another 7-6 season, but was enough for the franchise’s first-ever playoff appearance in 1963, then overcame that by winning back-to-back AFL championships in 1964 and 1965.

Saban left the Bills and became head coach and general manager of the Broncos from 1967 to 1971, but he had one last rodeo with the Bills from 1972 to 1976. This tenure was not as successful, however, as they did not ‘have only made the playoffs once.

Some Bills legends were born under Saban’s leadership. He helped Kemp become the AP AFL Player of the Year in 1965, coached Cookie Gilchrist to the AP AFL Player of the Year in 1962 and helped Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson win the MVP in 1973.

Saban will be remembered as a catalyst for the Bills franchise, helping the team win early in his career, gain publicity, develop Bills legends, and bring AFL championships to Buffalo before the Super Bowl era. Saban went 68-45-4 with the Bills.

2. Sean McDermott (2017-present)

In just three years, McDermott helped the Bills land franchise savior Josh Allen, build a top-tier defense by developing draft picks like Matt Milano and Tre’Davious White, acquire free agents like Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde and Stefon Diggs, and become one of the most feared teams in the NFL.

McDermott is known as one of the nicest guys in the building, down-to-earth and selfless. Almost every Bills player who played for him will say the same thing.

He helped the Bills become playoff contenders after nearly two decades. In his first year as head coach, he helped them end a long playoff drought, giving the franchise hope for the first time since 1999.

However, that doesn’t mean McDermott doesn’t have flaws. Fans are skeptical of Sean McDermott’s strategies. Fans have been calling for McDermott’s head after the 2023 season due to his inability to advance in the playoffs, especially after his questionable fake punt against Damar Hamlin on fourth down in their territory.

Their defense also doesn’t seem to be up to par in the playoffs. Since their last playoff loss, McDermott’s defense has allowed 134 total points, 16 touchdowns, and eight field goals with just one turnover in 38 drives. However, in the regular season, they have been a top-10 defense, sometimes top-five.

Even given McDermott’s flaws, he remains a solid defensive coach and has helped the Bills get to where they are today. To date, McDermott has the best winning percentage as head coach of the Bills with a record of 73-41, giving him a winning percentage of 64.

1. Marv Levy (1986-97)

Marv Levy takes the top spot on this list because he helped take the Bills from bottom of the barrel to “the team to beat” in the ’90s.

He began as an interim head coach alongside Hank Bullough, guiding the team to a 4-12 finish in 1986. Levy took over in 1987, and the Bills improved to 7-8 before starting to make the playoffs nearly every year. He coached players like Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith to become Hall of Fame contributors, helping Buffalo to four consecutive Super Bowls from 1990 to 1993.

Levy was a footballer at heart, he felt like one of the lads, one of his most famous quotes being “Where would you rather be but here and now”. He talked like he was a player himself, and the players loved him for it. The most common quality between him and Jim Kelly is that they were both determined leaders.

The word “determined” sums up Levy’s entire career. He failed to be the head coach of the Chiefs for half a decade, going 31-42 with them. Then Levy reinvented his career with the Bills and became the best of their entire franchise.

Levy and his team have fought every year to try to win the deciding match. Unfortunately, Levy was never able to complete this task, but he gave the Bills their greatest success since the birth of their franchise. To this day, Bills fans should consider him the best head coach they have had.

Levy rightfully earned his place in the Hall of Fame alongside the many players he coached during his golden years, posting an incredible 112-70 record with the Bills.