{"id":688232,"date":"2026-01-19T08:11:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T08:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/688232\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T08:11:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T08:11:25","slug":"buffalo-bills-coach-retires-after-heartbreaking-playoff-loss-to-the-denver-broncos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/688232\/","title":{"rendered":"Buffalo Bills coach retires after heartbreaking playoff loss to the Denver Broncos"},"content":{"rendered":"

By OLIVER SALT, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 18:03 EST, 18 January 2026 | Updated: 19:04 EST, 18 January 2026 <\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills<\/a> offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is set to retire after their gut wrenching playoff exit, according to reports.<\/p>\n

Kromer, who has spent 25 years as a coach in the NFL, saw his fourth and final season with Buffalo end in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

The Bills suffered a devastating overtime loss to the Denver Broncos<\/a> in the Divisional round, with a 23-yard field goal from Wil Lutz winning it for the hosts at Mile High.<\/p>\n

According to The Athletic’s Michael Silver, Kromer is now expected to call time on his coaching career following the end of his 25th season in the NFL.<\/p>\n

The 58-year-old started off as a graduate assistant for Miami University in Ohio, before making the move to the NFL with the formerly-named Oakland Raiders in 2001 after a spell with Northwestern.<\/p>\n

He has also worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>, New Orleans<\/a> Saints, Chicago Bears<\/a> and Los Angeles<\/a> Rams over the years in varying roles, including as interim head coach in New Orleans.<\/p>\n

\"Buffalo <\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is set to retire after their playoff elimination<\/p>\n

\"Kromer <\/p>\n

Kromer has built up a formidable offensive line in Buffalo to protect quarterback Josh Allen<\/p>\n

Kromer got his hands on a Super Bowl ring as the Saints’ offensive line coach in 2009, before spending six games as their interim head coach three years later when Sean Payton was suspended for the entire season.<\/p>\n

The Ohio-born coach’s latest stint in Buffalo was his second, having previously served as offensive line coach from 2015-16.<\/p>\n

During his second spell, Kromer built up a formidable offensive line for the Bills, with star running back James Cook becoming their first player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season for six years back in 2023.<\/p>\n

The team’s offensive line was a problem for quarterback Josh Allen in his early years in Buffalo, but the reigning NFL MVP was only sacked 38 times over the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.<\/p>\n

‘He made football fun. I could definitely say that he taught me the game. He made me understand it,’ third-year right guard O’Cyrus Torrence said amid reports that Kromer is going to retire.<\/p>\n

‘Coach Krom helped me improve the mental part of the game, just being able to go out there and lock into my job and understanding of what I’m doing and not letting what’s happening around me affect my play.’<\/p>\n

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