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The Buffalo Bills have a new head coach in Joe Brady, and he’s being urged to hire Sean McDermott as the team’s new defensive coordinator.
A former Buffalo Bills coach has landed a new position in the NFL as the Las Vegas Raiders expand their coaching staff.
Former Bills Coach Rick Dennison is Heading to Las Vegas
The Raiders announced on Thursday that they are hiring Rick Dennison as their next offensive line coach.
Dennison served as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator during the 2017 season, but head coach Sean McDermott let him go after just one year.
Even though Dennison spent only one season with the Bills, he played a key role in helping them reach the playoffs. Unfortunately, they managed to score just three points in their wildcard loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2017-18 postseason.
Dennison hasn’t been an offensive coordinator since his time with the Bills. Still, he has served as an offensive run game coordinator and offensive line coach for both the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings. He joined the New Orleans Saints as a senior offensive assistant in 2024 and most recently served as the offensive run game coordinator/senior offensive advisor with the Seattle Seahawks.
Dennison will join the new Raiders head coach, Klint Kubiak, who served as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator last season.
Las Veags Could Start to Become a Good Team Over The Next Few Years
The Raiders are set to be a significant player this season as they hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Currently, Las Vegas has Geno Smith, but there’s a chance it might release him this offseason, meaning it could be in the market for a quarterback.
Las Vegas may consider selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is coming off a championship season and just won the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
Kubiak played a pivotal role in transforming Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold into one of the league’s top quarterbacks this past season. He threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdown passes, helping Seattle clinch the Super Bowl.
If the Raiders draft Mendoza, they could be just a year or two away from competing for a playoff spot, and the Bills might have to start taking them seriously moving forward.
Buffalo is poised to make the playoffs every season, provided that quarterback Josh Allen stays healthy. Moving forward, the Raiders could be a team they face in the playoffs.
Buffalo Might Have to Face Las Vegas in The Playoffs Soon
Bills fans should pay attention to how the Raiders’ offseason unfolds. Last season, the New England Patriots found themselves in a similar situation after a rough year, much like the Raiders.
New England went from four wins in 2024 to making the Super Bowl, and Las Vegas could follow the same blueprint.
The Bills didn’t believe the Patriots would be able to snatch the AFC East crown this past season, but New England ended up playing some incredible football.
The Bills don’t have to worry about the Raiders stealing a division title from them since they compete in opposite divisions. However, both teams belong to the AFC, and Las Vegas could snag a playoff spot or even a Super Bowl berth away from them someday.
Danny Fisher Is a football journalist covering the Buffalo Bills for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL for Gridiron Heroics, focusing on the AFC and Penn State football for Nittany Central. More about Danny Fisher
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