General manager Doug Whaley, scouting staff, fired by Buffalo Bills

Doug Whaley has been fired as general manager of the Buffalo Bills.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers’ pro personnel director had been a member of the Bills’ front office since February 2010, when he was hired as assistant to then-GM Buddy Nix. Whaley was groomed for the top job while he served in that position until May 16, 2013, when he was named general manager of the team.

Whaley’s tenure has been a bumpy one, seeing three head coaches hired, with one quitting (Doug Marrone), one being fired two years into a five-year contract (Rex Ryan), and another seemingly taking over upon receiving his first head coaching position (current head coach Sean McDermott). Whaley has been a noted wheeler and dealer on draft day throughout his tenure as GM, orchestrating 5 draft-weekend trades in his first draft in 2014, then trading up for LB Reggie Ragland in 2016 before making three more trades (two trade ups and a trade down) during this year’s draft.

Rumors of Whaley’s demise have long been circulating, but the clamor picked up as the draft concluded yesterday. Jason La Canfora reported that the Bills’ scouting staff would be summoned for a meeting this morning, even going so far as to name a potential Whaley replacement: Brandon Beane, the 40 year-old assistant general manager of the Carolina Panthers.

Whaley’s firing confirms rumors of McDermott’s victory in the power-struggle department. For now, the Bills will move forward without the man who has led their personnel department for the last 4 seasons.

UPDATE:

The Pegulas have released a statement on Whaley’s firing:

UPDATE PART II:

It appears that the entire scouting staff may be on the way out, as well.