REPORT:Mike Caldwell Interviews Bills in Washington, DC

The Bills have appointed a new offensive coordinator, but they still need to select a new defensive coordinator. Head coach Sean McDermott met with someone he knew well as part of this search.

For the position of defensive coordinator, the Bills interviewed Mike Caldwell, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. During a season in which Jacksonville failed to live up to expectations on both sides of the ball and missed the playoffs, Caldwell was one of many defensive staff members let go by the Jaguars at the end of the season. Despite this, he has drawn interest from coordinators for this year’s employment season.

Vic Fangio has since been assigned to the DC role that Caldwell was interviewed for by the Eagles. However, he has also talked with the organization over the linebackers coach position, so a deal that would send him to Philadelphia might still exist. If Caldwell’s visit with the Bills results in an offer, he will have at least one option. He would then get back together with McDermott in such case.

Both while Caldwell was a player for the Eagles and later as a member of the coaching staff in Philadelphia, the two spent time together. Taking up Buffalo’s DC role would therefore enable Caldwell, 52, to work with a team with significant expectations and allow for another shared term with McDermott.

Although the unit has occasionally failed, the Bills’ projected Super Bowl window has been maintained in part by the team’s well-known defenders from recent years. This season, Buffalo excelled in a lot of defensive areas, including play-calling, where McDermott assumed the reins after Leslie Frazier announced his retirement from coaching. There will definitely be roster adjustments in the near future, but Buffalo will go into the season hoping to make a long postseason run, something that its defense will play a big part in doing.

Caldwell interviews with the Bills for their opening alongside former Eagles DC Sean Desai. At the conclusion of the season, the latter was also fired, but by then, Philadelphia had found a replacement for him as their play-caller. While the Bills continue their search, a number of other applicants are still available to speak with them. Several coordinator vacancies have already been filled.