Mike McDaniel is interviewing for the Buffalo Bills head-coaching job on Friday, with the continued expectation that he will become the Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator if he is not hired for any of the league’s five remaining head-coaching vacancies.
McDaniel met with the Chargers on Tuesday and was expected to fill their offensive coordinator job, though a deal has yet to be finalized.
McDaniel, 42, had interviewed for several head-coaching openings in this cycle. However, he backed out of a scheduled second interview with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, according to a league source. He has also interviewed for the Las Vegas Raiders opening. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals also still have vacancies.
The Bills’ decision-makers flew to Florida to meet with McDaniel. They have also scheduled interviews in Florida with Washington Commanders run game coordinator Anthony Lynn and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on Saturday, and with Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski on Sunday.
On Wednesday, the Bills completed an in-house interview with their offensive coordinator, Joe Brady. The next day, they interviewed former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll — who previously worked as the Bills’ offensive coordinator — and Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been sitting in on all the interviews and joined the team contingent in Florida, according to a team source.
Buffalo is making sure their best player, team leader, and face of the franchise is part of the hiring process. Josh Allen will have significant say on the next coach of the Buffalo Bills. https://t.co/peJf9RbhYZ
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 23, 2026
The Dolphins fired McDaniel on Jan. 8 after four seasons in Miami. The Dolphins went 35-33 in the regular season and made two trips to the wild-card round in his first two seasons, losing both times. They missed the playoffs in the last two seasons and have the NFL’s longest playoff drought, dating to the 2000 season.
The Buffalo job became open on Monday after they fired Sean McDermott after nine seasons and eight trips to the playoffs. McDermott went 98-50 in the regular season — the second-most wins in franchise history — but never took Allen and the Bills to the Super Bowl.
His firing came on the heels of a 33-30 overtime loss in the divisional round to the Denver Broncos, in which Allen was in tears. Buffalo owner Terry Pegula cited Allen and the team’s reaction to the loss as one of the reasons for firing McDermott.