ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Just over a week after head coach Sean McDermott expressed confidence in Matthew Smiley, the Bills have fired their special teams coordinator, a source confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.
Smiley held the role with the Bills for three seasons. He previously was the team's assistant special teams coach for five seasons, on staff for the entirety of McDermott's tenure with the Bills beginning in 2017.
McDermott, during his end-of-season news conference, spoke highly of Smiley, while acknowledging there is some room for growth.
"Matthew has done a nice job," McDermott said. "Listen, I know there are plays that have come up, and I know he doesn't feel great about them, nor do I. Those are learning pieces for a coach in his position. ... When you get some injuries like we had, in particular on the defensive side unfortunately ... usually, the special teams coaches feel the cumulative effect because the special teams players get slid up into defensive roles and then [the coaches] are left with what's left in terms of, 'How can I formulate a group to go out there and play effectively?'
"All that being said, I'm confident that Coach Smiley is going to learn from those situations and plays that came up this year."
Later, when asked if he was confident in bringing Smiley back in 2025, McDermott said, "Yes."
The special teams unit was shaky throughout the season, including multiple instances of not having the right number of players or correct personnel on the field. Kicker Tyler Bass went through a tough stretch, but he improved late in the season. The unit allowed a punt block return touchdown, a kickoff return touchdown and the fifth-highest yards per kickoff return (30.8).
Smiley's firing was first reported by NFL Network.