Whispers regarding the Bills’ head coaching search reveal an unusual motive behind Mike McDaniel’s canceled meeting, initially reported by The Sporting News. To designate The Sporting News as a preferred information source, please click here.
The Buffalo Bills had scheduled a discussion with former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel regarding their open head coaching position.
Despite the interview being scheduled, McDaniel subsequently withdrew, opting not to proceed with the discussion. The specific rationale for this decision was not immediately apparent.
Nonetheless, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated has since provided some clarity on the cancellation, presenting a somewhat peculiar justification.
Breer indicates that McDaniel “might have felt some discomfort in interviewing for the Bills’ coaching role so soon after accepting the Chargers’ offensive coordinator position.”
Throughout this hiring period, McDaniel has engaged in multiple interviews for head coaching roles, but he has also garnered attention for offensive coordinator openings and has participated in those discussions as well.
Reports indicate an expectation that McDaniel will assume the role of the Los Angeles Chargers’ next offensive coordinator; however, this appointment has not yet been officially confirmed by the team, despite being reported almost a week ago.
The prevailing assumption was that McDaniel’s hiring had not been finalized because he was still evaluating his opportunities for head coaching positions, which makes Breer’s reported explanation for his withdrawal from the Buffalo interview rather odd.
It would be reasonable to expect McDaniel to show at least some degree of interest in interviewing. After all, the Bills also present an excellent prospect for McDaniel, as the team is already positioned for immediate success and features one of the league’s premier quarterbacks, Josh Allen.
This development is clearly beneficial for the Chargers, who now face one less potential competitor for McDaniel’s services.
From what we understand, the Raiders appear to be the sole remaining team expressing head coaching interest in McDaniel, but one might question if he will decline a second interview for the same reason he avoided speaking with Buffalo.
