On Super Bowl Sunday, the Buffalo Bills made a significant coaching change, parting ways with Matthew Smiley as their special teams coordinator. Just two days later, the team announced his successor.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills have appointed Chris Tabor as their new special teams coordinator. Although Tabor was not part of the league last season, he previously served as the interim head coach for the Carolina Panthers in 2023, alongside his role as the team’s special teams coordinator from 2022 to 2023.

Tabor brings extensive experience to the role, having dedicated many years to coaching special teams in the NFL. He began his career as an assistant special teams coach with the Chicago Bears from 2008 to 2010 before taking on the role of special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, where he served from 2011 to 2017. Tabor then returned to the Bears, holding the same position from 2018 to 2021.

Under Smiley’s leadership, the Bills’ special teams units faced challenges, finishing 28th in special teams DVOA this past season. They also performed poorly in rankings compiled by Rick Gosselin and Bill Huber, placing 28th in 2023 and 27th in 2024.

In contrast, Tabor was recognized as the second-best special teams coordinator in the NFL by the NFL Players Association in 2023, following the votes of 1,025 special teams players.

In his last season with the Panthers, Gosselin ranked Tabor’s special teams unit as the fourth-best in the league. His evaluation was based on several factors, including returns, coverage, starting field positions, kicking, punting, points accrued, penalties, turnovers, and blocked kicks. Notably, the Panthers led the league with five punt blocks in 2023.

Tabor’s positive reputation among special teams players and his impressive track record could facilitate the Bills’ efforts to enhance their special teams unit through free agency.