Bills HC Sean McDermott not yet sure who will call defensive plays in 2024 NFL season

The Buffalo Bills have a defensive coordinator again, promoting Bobby Babich to the previously vacant position in late January to prevent him from being poached by one of the many circling teams.

And although Babich’s new title would typically imply that he will call the defensive plays for Buffalo, head coach Sean McDermott has not yet decided who will assume that responsibility during the regular season. McDermott, who took over play-calling duties after longtime coordinator Leslie Frazier left the organization following the conclusion of the 2022 campaign, told reporters before Tuesday’s OTA practice that he would have a better answer as to who will serve as Buffalo’s defensive player later this summer.

“Not there (on a decision),” McDermott said. That’s probably a fairer question, at this point, when we’re probably in the middle of training camp. I won’t make a decision until then, if I do I will let you know.

McDermott first rose to prominence in the league as a defensive play caller, serving as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2016. His legacy of play-calling duties through the 2023 season allowed him to call plays consistently for the first time since his time in Carolina; Buffalo’s defense finished ninth in total defense and fourth in points against last year.

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The veteran coach isn’t opposed to the idea of ​​eventually shifting calling duties to Babich, but it will be a slow process considering the 40-year-old coordinator has never called a play at the professional level; he will have the opportunity to do so at regular intervals throughout the summer.

“I’m going to be intentional on my part to make sure that whether it’s practices or preseason games, that Bobby gets that opportunity,” McDermott said. “The question is just when and for how long we will do it. Being a former game player myself, former six years before I got here and then again last year, you always have to knock off some rust, you always have to polish yourself and be ready to go because you I have to be able to process quickly.

“Descent and distance, situation, time on the clock, timeouts, what you have already set up. Many things happen quickly, so it’s important to answer the right call quickly. You have to sort of remove some rust.

Babich was Buffalo’s linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator, a position he moved to before the 2022 season. He previously served as safeties coach after joining the organization as a coach assistant defensive backs in 2017.