ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Bills will have a new defensive coordinator in 2024.
Buffalo announced Tuesday the promotion of linebackers coach Bobby Babich to the role of defensive coordinator. Babich has been with the Bills since 2017, including the past two seasons as linebackers coach.
He's played a pivotal role in the development of the Bills future at that position. In his first year as linebackers coach, Matt Milano went on to earn AP All-Pro honors, while this season, Terrel Bernard flourished in his first year as a starter with a team-leading 143 tackles.
Previous to coaching linebackers, Babich served as the team's safeties coach where he coached the team's star safety duo of Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.
If Babich calls defensive plays, something that remains to be seen, he would be Buffalo's third different defensive play caller in as many seasons.
Leslie Frazier left after the 2022 season, and head coach Sean McDermott took over the defensive play calling duties this past season. It was the first time in McDermott's tenure with the Bills that he's performed the dual role of head coach and defensive play caller.
McDermott spoke about juggling the two tasks last week at his end of season press conference.
"I felt like overall it was knocking some rust off early maybe," McDermott said. "Just getting back into the seat of doing it again, but felt very comfortable back in that position. Certainly more work on one's plate when you do that and take on a dual role like that and that'll be evaluated as i go forward here and we go forward."
In 2023, the Bills defense ranked 4th in the NFL in opponent's points per game (18.7) and 8th in opponent's yards per game (310.9).
Keeping Babich in Buffalo also keeps the 40-year old away from other teams who were interested in hiring him away from the Bills. The Dolphins, Giants and Packers had all reportedly requested interviews with Babich for their defensive coordinator roles.
Babich comes from a football family, the son of former Bills linebackers coach Bob Babich, who coached in the NFL from 2003 to 2021. Bobby's experience in the NFL before Buffalo includes time as an assistant with the Panthers from 2011-2012 and with the Browns from 2013-2015.
With Babich's promotion, the Bills now have both coordinator roles filled for next season, after announcing the hiring of Joe Brady as the permanent offensive coordinator on Sunday. Brady served as the team's interim offensive coordinator after the firing of Ken Dorsey midway through the season.
The move also marks the second for a member of the Bills' 2023 defensive staff, with defensive line coach and assistant head coach Eric Washington leaving to take the defensive coordinator role with the Bears.
