Indianapolis, Ind. (WGR 550) - Last month, the Buffalo Bills announced that Bobby Babich would become the team’s new defensive coordinator.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Monday there’s still been no decision made on whether or not Babich will call the defensive plays on game day next season, or if he will continue to do it himself.
"We’ll make that decision when we need to," said McDermott while speaking with reporters ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis. "Right now, we’re just one step at a time."
One year ago while at the NFL Combine, it was announced that Leslie Frazier was stepping away as Bills defensive coordinator and taking a year off from coaching. Frazier was recently hired as the assistant head coach of the Seattle Seahawks by their new head coach Mike Macdonald.
McDermott took over play-calling duties, but never officially named himself or anyone else the new defensive coordinator.
The defense suffered a rash of injuries throughout the 2023 season, including season-ending injuries to linebacker Matt Milano and cornerback Tre’Davious White. Despite that, though, they did hit some rough patches. However, the unit still finished the season allowing the fourth-fewest points in the league.
The organization had several assistant coaches qualified to be hired as defensive coordinator, including Eric Washington and John Butler. McDermott decided on Babich, while Washington was hired as the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears, and Butler and team mutually parted ways.
"I’ve had a chance to be around Bobby for a number of years," McDermott said of Babich, who has been in his staff since he became Bills head coach in 2017.
Babich was first hired to coach the safeties group, then he replaced his father as linebackers coach after he retired prior to 2022.
"He’s always been a highly energetic young coach," McDermott added. "Comes from a coaching family and a coaching background. Just always impressed with Bobby‘s curiosity about the game, offensively, defensively, as well, obviously. He’s got a vision for what and how he sees the defense not only now, but also moving forward."
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