The Buffalo Bills decided to hire former New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan to the same position. An official announcement was made on Jan. 12.

Continue for updates.

Bills Hire Rex Ryan After Second Interview

Monday, Jan. 12

Bills owner Terry Pegula announced Ryan's hiring on Monday morning:

Following an extensive search, we are pleased today to announce that Rex Ryan is our new head coach. Rex brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the position that we feel will be a tremendous benefit to our players and the entire Bills organization. He was very impressive during the interview process, as were many of the candidates to which we spoke, and we feel Rex is the best fit for our team. We look forward to his leadership and expertise in directing our team to the playoffs and bringing a championship to Buffalo for our fans.

Yesterday, ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the Bills were expected to hire Ryan. "The Buffalo Bills are putting the finishing touches on deal that will make Rex Ryan their next head coach," ESPN.com stated. 

Schefter continued:

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News followed with contractual details:

On Saturday, Schefter reported Ryan interviewed for the second time:

As NFL.com's Kimberly Jones reported, the Bills already interviewed Ryan on Thursday:

WIVB's Lauren Brill has former Bills star's Andre Reed's thoughts on a potential Ryan hire:

Kyle Shanahan to Interview in Buffalo

Thursday, Jan. 8

According to Ian Rapoport, former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan remains in the running for the Bills' head coaching job:

Manuel Scaring Away HC Candidates?

Wednesday, Jan. 7

Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole spoke with Stephen Nelson about how EJ Manuel is affecting offensive-minded head coaching candidates:

Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News reported Tuesday that GM Doug Whaley is speaking highly of Manuel during interviews and has emphasized his desire for the next coach to develop him:

In other developments related to the coaching search, a league source says that Bills General Manager Doug Whaley, who is leading the search process for club owners Terry and Kim Pegula, has spoken in glowing terms to candidates about quarterback EJ Manuel. The source said that Whaley is making it clear he wants the new coach to make the progress in developing Manuel, the Bills' first-round draft pick in 2013, that former coach Doug Marrone and his staff never made.

Manuel, who started 10 games as a rookie before suffering a season-ending injury, was benched after four games last season and replaced by veteran Kyle Orton, who retired the day after the season ended.

The Bills are very talented on defense and have some key pieces in place on offense, but the quarterback position is a major question mark heading into 2015.    

Kyle Shanahan Interview Date Set

Wednesday, Jan. 7

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirmed the day that Kyle Shanahan will interview for the Bills' head coaching position:

ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported Monday that Buffalo had requested permission to interview Shanahan.

Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Monday that Kyle's dad Mike could also go to Buffalo as a packaged deal with his son.

Kyle Shanahan is just 35 years old but has been an offensive coordinator at the NFL level since 2008.

Bills Discuss Job With Jim Schwartz 

Tuesday, Jan. 6

The Bills have spoken to their defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, about the head coaching vacancy, reports Tim Graham of The Buffalo News. 

Interviews with Hue Jackson, Teryl Austin Set

Tuesday, Jan. 6

Tim Graham of The Buffalo News reported the scheduled dates for the team's interviews with Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin:

Graham also shared some background on the candidates:

Jackson is a longtime coordinator and quarterbacks coach who was the Oakland Raiders' head coach in 2011. He has a reputation for being loved by his players.

The Bengals' offense ranked 15th in yards, sixth in rushing and 21st in passing.

Austin was in his first year overseeing the Lions' defense, which ranked second in yards allowed, first against the run and 13th against the pass. Prior to the Lions he was a Baltimore Ravens defensive backs assistant and Florida Gators defensive coordinator.

Bills Granted Permission to Interview Greg Roman

Tuesday, Jan. 6

Fox Sports' Alex Marvez provides an update on the Bills' pursuit of a new head coach:

Source tells @NFLonFOX that @49ers have granted OC Greg Roman permission to interview for @buffalobills HC job. Happening on Friday

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 6, 2015

Bills Request Interviews With Greg Roman and Pat Shurmur

Monday, Jan. 5

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Bills will be interviewing 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur:

Reich Interviewed With Bills on Sunday

Monday, Jan. 5

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Frank Reich's interview with the Bills:

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first reported Buffalo's interest in Reich following Doug Marrone's exit on Jan. 31:

Legendary Bills wide receiver Andre Reed voiced his support for Reich on Jan. 2, via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com:

I think he'd be a great head coach. He knew a lot more about the offense, a lot more about the team than Jim Kelly even knew. When he came in there, we didn't miss a beat. I think he would make—definitely would make a great head coach anywhere.

He's definitely a viable candidate. I think he would do a great job. Not only would he bring a lot of credibility, but Bills fans would probably—the roof would probably come off if he came in there and became the head coach. I'm definitely a proponent of him being the head coach there, if that's the way and that's what goes down.

Mike Shanahan Meets with Bills

Monday, Jan. 5

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported new details regarding Mike Shanahan meeting with the Bills:

Shanahan, 62, is garnering interest from other teams with head coaching vacancies, including the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, per Schefter.

He last coached for the Washington Redskins from 2010 to 2013. He went just 24-40 and was fired after a 3-13 campaign.

Despite those struggles, Shanahan is a big-name candidate and won back-to-back Super Bowls in the late 1990s with the Denver Broncos.

Bills Request Interview with Hue Jackson; Pep Hamilton Interview on Hold

Monday, Jan. 5

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Albert Breer revealed new details on the team's interest in Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson and Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton for its head coaching vacancy:

ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported that Buffalo requested permission to interview Hamilton. However, due to Indianapolis' win over Cincinnati in the Wild Card Round, the Colts are still in action and Hamilton is unavailable to interview this week.

Bills to Interview Former Head Coaches, Several Coordinators

Sunday, Jan. 4

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported two coordinators in Sunday's Wild Card Games are under consideration by Buffalo:

Schefter later reported additional candidates:

On Friday, Tim Graham of The Buffalo News reported potential interviewees:

Who Will Conduct Buffalo's Interviews for Vacant Head Coach Position?

Friday, Jan. 2

Tim Graham of The Buffalo News reported new Bills owner Terry Pegula will play a major role in the interviewing process:

Bills Interested in Adam Gase

Thursday, Jan. 1

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Bills are interested in Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase:

Bills Begin Search for Head Coach After Marrone Opts Out

Wednesday, Dec. 31

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Doug Marrone decided to opt out of his contract as head coach of the Bills on Wednesday night:

With Marrone out of the picture and possibly looking to land with the New York Jets, the Bills reportedly have interest in San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

The 53-year-old Reich was an NFL quarterback for 13 seasons, including nine with the Bills. He famously orchestrated the greatest comeback in NFL history when Buffalo overcame a 32-point deficit to defeat the Houston Oilers in a 1993 playoff game.  

This past season was Reich's first as an offensive coordinator after spending 2013 as the Bolts' quarterbacks coach. San Diego ranked 18th in yards per game, but signal-caller Philip Rivers enjoyed one of his best seasons in recent memory.

With the Bills potentially searching for a new quarterback after the retirement of Kyle Orton, it is easy to see why Reich may have been near the top of their list of head coaching candidates.

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