{"id":701119,"date":"2026-01-24T09:17:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T09:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/701119\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T09:17:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T09:17:23","slug":"buffalo-bills-lose-game-changing-coach-reportedly-hired-by-division-rival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/701119\/","title":{"rendered":"Buffalo Bills lose game-changing coach, reportedly hired by division rival"},"content":{"rendered":"

The day before the Buffalo Bills<\/a> fired Sean McDermott, the team reportedly lost offensive line coach<\/a> Aaron Kromer to retirement. Now, Buffalo has lost another crucial assistant, this time to a division rival, per reports.<\/p>\n

Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor has parted ways<\/a> with the Bills after just one season and is now set to join the Miami Dolphins\u2019 organization.<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter reported the news<\/a> on Friday night, as Buffalo will now be in search of its third special teams coordinator in as many seasons.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Buffalo Bills coach will reportedly retire following Divisional Round loss to Broncos<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills special teams coordinator Chris Tabor looks on before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Good stint<\/p>\n

Tabor proved an effective coach for the Bills, albeit during a brief tenure, as Buffalo\u2019s special teams displayed noticeable improvement under his leadership in 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tabor guided a kick return unit that saw Ray Davis earn first-team All-Pro honors<\/a> as a returner after finishing the regular season as the NFL leader in average yards per kick return (30.4). Davis also recorded a 97-yard kick return, which was the fifth-longest in the league this season. Davis\u2019 kick return yards over expected (+8.8) was the third-best mark since 2018, per Next Gen Stats<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Additionally, despite cycling through several options<\/a> throughout the early portion of the season, Tabor helped settle things in the punting department. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky finished in the top half of the league (14th) in net punting average (41.9). And while filling in for starting kicker Tyler Bass, who was lost due to injury during training camp, Matt Prater converted on 90% of his field goal attempts.<\/p>\n

MORE: One surprise as pair of Buffalo Bills players named All-Pros<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: Dolphins are hiring former Bills special teams coordinator Chris Tabor as their special teams coordinator. An in-division move. pic.twitter.com\/hwjXlSQfax<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 23, 2026<\/a>Once again looking<\/p>\n

Tabor replaced former Bills special teams coach Matthew Smiley<\/a> for the 2025 season, which turned out to be Tabor\u2019s lone year in Buffalo. He will now move on to the Dolphins, who are set to replace outgoing Miami STs coach Craig Aukerman, who previously served in the role for one season under former head coach Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins recently hired Jeff Hafley to replace McDaniel.<\/p>\n

The Bills are currently\u00a0in the process of\u00a0hiring a new head coach<\/a>, so any future hire for special teams coordinator will likely come after the team moves forward with a new leader. Buffalo has already completed interviews with offensive coordinator Joe Brady, former OC and New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and former Colts and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0Sign up for OnSI\u2019s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter<\/a>\u00a0\u2014<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills make bad decision involving Josh Allen in hiring of new head coach<\/a>Exploring Bills head coach interviews: 3 red-hot candidates officially visit with team<\/a>Buffalo Bills star pass catcher has torn knee ligament, per teammate<\/a>Former Bills offensive coordinator close to becoming team’s next head coach, per report<\/a>