When Brian Daboll was hired by the Buffalo Bills as their new offensive coordinator in January, Bills fans knew that Daboll came with a successful resume, and a solid familiarity with head coach Sean McDermott.
What Bills fans didn’t know, and what was kept under lids until Tuesday, was that Daboll had a choice when it came to his next coaching position: the former offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide had been offered both the Buffalo OC job, and a job with the Indianapolis Colts as an offensive coach (the capacity of the Colts position is still not known).
Ed Werder, a former ESPN reporter, reported that Daboll was offered a coaching job on Josh McDaniels’ staff in Indianapolis, but, according to Werder, Daboll chose the Bills for “family reasons.”
Brian Daboll was supposed to be part of the #Colts offensive staff but opted for #Bills for family reasons. https://t.co/SmJq0nKjKW
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) February 6, 2018
Good thing Daboll, a Buffalo native, opted for the job in Western New York. In a stunning reversal Tuesday, McDaniels went back on his word to coach the Colts and instead opted to return to New England as the Patriots offensive coordinator, leaving assistants (like Daboll) in an uncertain position regarding their futures.
Daboll, who already owned a home minutes from the building in which he now works at One Bills Drive, grew up a Bills fan. He graduated from St. Francis High in Buffalo, played college football at the University of Rochester, and was with the William and Mary football program at the same time as McDermott, in 1997. Daboll was a restricted earnings coach, while McDermott was a safety.
Daboll, 42, was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Prior to that, he was on Bill Belichick’s coaching staff in New England, including a stint as tight ends coach when the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. He recommended McDaniels to Belichick when McDaniels was first hired on the staff to replace Daboll, who had been promoted.
In addition to serving as New England’s tight ends coach, Daboll also worked as the Patriots’ wide receivers coach, as an offensive assistant, and as a defensive assistant. His play-calling history includes being offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2009-2010), Miami Dolphins (2011), and Kansas City Chiefs (2012).