The Buffalo Bills have parted ways with special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley, just two weeks after their season ended with a loss in the AFC Championship Game. This decision marks a surprising reversal for the franchise, as head coach Sean McDermott had previously indicated that Smiley would return for the 2025 season. However, after taking more time to reflect on the 2024 season, the team ultimately decided to move on from Smiley, whose tenure was marked by a series of high-profile mistakes that overshadowed some of the team’s brighter moments. The Bills’ special teams unit struggled with situational awareness and execution throughout the year, culminating in a handful of critical errors that likely influenced the franchise’s change of heart.
Matthew Smiley joined the Bills in 2017 as part of McDermott’s original coaching staff and served as the assistant special teams coordinator until 2021, when he was promoted to the lead role. During his time as special teams coordinator, Smiley faced significant challenges, particularly in the 2024 season. The Bills’ special teams unit was plagued by costly errors, including a blocked punt returned for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams, a game-ending punt block attempt with only nine players on the field in the same game, and a successful fake punt conversion by Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos during the playoffs. These mistakes, combined with the unit’s overall inconsistency, raised questions about Smiley’s ability to lead the team’s special teams into the future.
Smiley’s struggles in 2024 were not an isolated issue but rather part of a larger pattern of instability within the Bills’ special teams. The 2023 season had also ended on a sour note, with kicker Tyler Bass enduring one of the worst stretches of his career and a failed fake punt attempt contributing to a loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round. Despite McDermott’s initial confidence in Smiley’s ability to learn from these mistakes, the franchise ultimately decided that a change was necessary to address the ongoing issues plaguing the unit. The Bills have long emphasized the importance of special teams in building and maintaining a competitive roster, and the repeated errors under Smiley’s leadership likely prompted the team to seek a fresh perspective.
The decision to part ways with Smiley means that the Bills will now be searching for their fourth special teams coordinator since McDermott arrived in 2017. Smiley’s predecessors included Heath Farwell, who served from 2019 to 2021, and Danny Crossman, who held the role from 2017 to 2018. As the Bills begin their search for a new special teams coordinator, they will be looking for someone who can bring stability and consistency to a unit that has been a source of frustration in recent years. The new coordinator will face the challenge of revitalizing a unit that has struggled with situational awareness, execution, and overall performance, while also helping to build a cohesive system that complements the rest of the team.
For Smiley, the departure marks the end of a six-year tenure with the Bills, during which he rose through the ranks from assistant special teams coordinator to the lead role. While he had his moments of success, the cumulative effect of the mistakes in 2023 and 2024 likely overshadowed any positive contributions he made during his time with the team. Smiley’s experience in Buffalo serves as a reminder of the high-pressure nature of coaching in the NFL, where even the smallest mistakes can have significant consequences. As he moves on from the Bills, Smiley will undoubtedly look to learn from his experiences and use them as an opportunity to grow as a coach.
Looking ahead, the Bills’ decision to move on from Smiley signals a renewed commitment to addressing the issues that have plagued their special teams. The franchise has consistently emphasized the importance of this unit in building the back end of their roster, and the search for a new coordinator will be a critical step in restoring the team’s competitiveness. While the Bills’ decision to part ways with Smiley may have been difficult, it underscores the organization’s focus on excellence and its willingness to make tough decisions in pursuit of success. As the team prepares for the 2025 season, all eyes will be on how they address the special teams coordinator position and whether the new leadership can bring the stability and consistency that has been lacking in recent years.
