This blog series will take us through the following progression:

  • Identify Who We Were
  • Discover our Needs
  • Spring Cleaning (Roster Moves)
  • Retooling (Free Agency Prediction)
  • Investing for the Future (Draft Prep)
  • Coaching Adjustments

At the time of writing this, the Buffalo Bills addressed the special teams unit by removing Matthew Smiley and replacing him with long-time Special Teams Coach and former 2x interim head coach Chris Tabor. While that might seem to speak for itself, let’s be thorough and take a close look at the special teams for the 2024 Buffalo Bills.

Chris Tabor

Just because someone used to work for the Panthers, doesn’t mean that has to be the only reason they now work for Carolina North right? To be fair, Chris Tabor has been a respected Special Teams coach in the league since 2007. He apparently commanded the respect of his players and the trust of ownership and management as he was elected to take over as interim head coach when both Frank Reich with the Panthers and Matt Nagy with the Bear were let go.

Does that mean the Special Teams units will automatically improve in 2025? Maybe.

In his final year with the Bears, his unit was comprised of K Robbie Gould, P Brad Maynard, twin Kick returners WR Devin Hester (who also returned punts) and S Danieal Manning. This resulted in over 1900 Kick return yards. 261 punt return yards, 5124 Kickoff yards, 23/26 FGs made, 41/41 XPs made, and 2900 yards punted.

In his last year with the Cleveland Browns, his staff included K Zane Gonzalez, P Britton Colquitt, twin Kick Returners (Take Note!) SJabrill Peppers and RB Matthew Dayes. They finished with over 700 Kick Return yards, 221 punt return yards, 3286 Kickoff yards, 15/20 FGS made, 25/26 XPs made and 3827 punt yards.

Granted, the special teams landscape has changed due the new look kickoff rules, but if Tabor’s track record is any predictor of things to come, expect the Bills to utilize one offensive player and one defensive player as twin returners in the kickoff game, one of which will also serve as the punt returner. We can also expect the field goal procedures to become much smoother and better drilled.

So who is this special teams unit that Chris Tabor is inheriting?

K Tyler Bass

Tyler Bass in 2024 had a lower FG% than any of the final years reviewed in Tabor’s previous stops. His 24/29 gave him only an 82% field goal percentage, good for 14th in the NFL. His extra points were only 92% made, also representing the struggling year he had. He chipped in 6514 kickoff yards, most of which were booming touchbacks that prevented the opponent from ever having a chance to have any returns.

He is due 4.6 million dollars in 2025, which will be the third year of a 5 year contract. His 5.1 million dollar APY makes him the 12th highest paid Kicker in the league, while his guaranteed per year of 2.3 million makes him the 10th highest. His contract is about commensurate with his performance from 2024, though his streakiness is enough to make any Bills fan wonder.

He will lose his placeholder in Sam Martin. As of the time of writing this, Sam Martin has been released and the Bills will be on the search for not only a new punter, but also a new holder for Tyler Bass.

If Chris Tabor brings the improvement to the processes of the game that Matthew Smiley couldn’t produce, expected Tyler Bass’ extra point and field game percentages to improve, while his big leg will continue to come in handy in reducing the possible number of return yards the opposing team may hope to gain.

Brandon Codrington

Late in the 2024 offseason, the coaching staff seemed to realize that their plan for returner wasn’t going to work. Rooke Daequan Hardy was perceived to be the heir apparent, but ended up on the practice squad. We all knew that Khalil Shakir could wave his hand in the air and catch the ball cleanly, but management rightfully so wanted to have more upside at returner.

Enter Brandon Codrington. Trading a 6th round pick and receiving Codrington and a 7th in return, the Bills, in a single move, solidified who would end up being their main punt and kick returner.

He returned every punt and got every punt return yard, returning 27 punts for 313 yards. As the kick returner, he took 11 of the 24 kick returns, totalling 306 yards including a 53 yarder as his longest on the season. He averaged 11.6 yard per punt return, and 27.8 for each kick return. He was 4th overall in Punt Return yards in the league.

His main backup at kick returner was split between Ray Davis (7/147) and Ty Johnson (5/130). Under Chris Tabor, expect an open competition at kick returner for the 2nd returner spot between Ray Davis, Ty Johnson (if he returns), and Daequan Hardy, plus anyone they sign or draft.

Core Special Teamers

There is always a core group of players that serve as Core special Teamers and this is definitely the case for the Buffalo Bills. Beyond Reid Ferguson at the long snapper, the Bills had six players who played over 50% of snaps at Special Teams, including Reggie Gilliam, Quintin Morris, Jamarcus Ingram, Cam Lewis, Joe Andreesson, and Javon Solomon, all of whom also played key depth roles across the team.

Other players contributed quite a bit such as rookie Cole Bishop, Nicholas Morrow, Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, Alec Anderson and Casey Toohill all playing between 30 and 40 percent of special teams snaps.

They finished leading the league in Punt yards allowed per game with 111 yards on average. Expect the Bills to continue to prioritize and reward their core Special Teamers as part of their roster management. Quite often, the difference between making the 46 players on the active roster, to being inactive on game day, is the ability to be a special teamer and the more phases you play, the more likely the Bills will activate you on game day.

We can expect Chris Tabor to be given every priority and support from the front office and Brandon Beane in gaining Special Teams specialists to work with and perfect as the 2025 offseason continues.