BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills are keeping a popular defensive assistant with the team by promoting linebackers coach Bobby Babich to the role of defensive coordinator.
The Bills announced the move Tuesday afternoon, just two days after the team shared that interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady, 34, would be promoted to his role full time. Babich, 40, received multiple interview requests for defensive coordinator roles around the league but has never served in that capacity.
"Good coach," coach Sean McDermott said about Babich last week. "Bobby and I have been together a number of years, going back to our time together in Carolina. And you know, his dad [coach Bob Babich] was with us for a number of years here, and good family. Bob is a good coach. He's developed players, and I think when you evaluate a coach, [you are] taking what you have and making it better? And I think it doesn't get any, need to get any more complex than that. And Bobby's done that."
The title of defensive coordinator was not used by the Bills for the 2023 season following the decision by Leslie Frazier -- the defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2022 who is not under contract for 2024 -- to take a year off from coaching. Instead, McDermott, who was a defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers in his career, took over playcalling duties. Defensive line coach Eric Washington added assistant head coach to his title but was hired this offseason as the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator with his role now open on the coaching staff.
Whether Babich or McDermott will have playcalling responsibilities going forward is still being determined.
"If [McDermott] feels he needs to put someone else to call the plays, we would do that," general manager Brandon Beane said last week. "If he is like, 'Man, yes, I can do this. I want to do it again,' then we would go that because ... there was nothing that left me saying he couldn't wear both hats."
Players who have worked with Babich speak highly of him as a coach and the promotion was well-received by players on social media. During the season, McDermott noted Babich as someone who rounds up the defense at times to give an encouraging message during games.
Babich worked on McDermott's staff during his entire tenure with the Bills (since 2017) in a variety of roles. Before being named linebackers coach for 2022, taking over the role from his father, he served as the safeties coach for four years -- working with Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde -- after starting as the team's assistant defensive backs coach. Poyer and linebacker Matt Milano both had All-Pro seasons while being coached by Babich.
He also worked with the Panthers for two years (2011-12), including one year as a defensive assistant, while McDermott was defensive coordinator.