The Buffalo Bills now have Chris Tabor in charge of their special teams unit.
Tabor, 53, was reportedly hired as the team’s next special teams coordinator moving forward. He replaces Matthew Smiley.
Moving on from Smiley in itself is not a shocking decision. Buffalo’s special teams did not have their best season in 2024, highlighted by struggles from kicker Tyler Bass.
However, head coach Sean McDermott’s commentary on Smiley at his end-of-season press conference made the news an interesting update. During that, McDermott directly said “yes” Smiley will return to the Bills in 2025.
Regardless, it’s Tabor’s job now. Get to know him a bit here.
Here are six things to know about the Bills special teams coordinator:
Respected special teams coach
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Tabor did not have a playing career in the NFL but his coaching resume is a respectable one. He worked in the college ranks from 1993 to 2007. The Bills will be his third team, having already worked special teams roles with the Chicago Bears (2008-21, 2018-21), Cleveland Browns (2011-2017) and Carolina Panthers.
In all those stops, he eventually was named coordinator, Just holding jobs doesn’t earn all the respect. He has a good track record, having worked with Pro Bowlers and Tabor has ranked near the top of the coordinator rankings in recent years:
Fun Fact: Chris Tabor was voted as the second-best special teams coach in the NFL in 2023 by the NFLPA. During his time with Cleveland in 2012, he oversaw PR Josh Cribbs and K Phil Dawson. Both players went on to be pro-bowlers that year. #BillsMafia
— Justin Siejak
(@justinsiejak) February 11, 2025
Interim experience
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Tabor’s most recent job in football was not just special teams related. His last post was interim head coach with the Panthers. Replacing Frank Reich for six games, Tabor had a 1-5 record.
In addition, Tabor was an interim for the Bears for one game… a losing effort. He replaced Matt Nagy for that outing.
Kept around a lot
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It could be a NFL record, but it would be a hard one to track. Tabor is so respected he has been kept around during coaching changes many times.
In Carolina, he was hired by Matt Rhule. Eventually Reich was named the next coach of the Panthers and Reich kept Tabor around.
That’s nothing.
In Cleveland the same thing happened during his spell with the Browns as four (4) different head coaches kept Tabor on board.
A year off
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It happens: Tabor did not have a job in the NFL in last year.
After 2023, the Panthers did let Tabor go. Instead of landing another job, he just did not coach last season so that’s why the Bills had access to hiring him.
Animated coaching style
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Tabor is evidently going to bring some juice to the special teams side of the ball. The Charlotte Observer previously described him in that manner:
It’s tough to deduce exactly what the Panthers are going to get with Tabor at the helm — besides one thing: They’re going to get intensity. Tabor is calm and soft-spoken at the news conference podium, but he’s often the loudest coach at Panthers practice, and even at times runs with the kicking team during kickoff return “walk-throughs” to ensure the operation is working smoothly.
Coaching is in his blood
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Tabor has coaching football in his genes. According to the Panthers’ website, Tabor’s father, Don, spent 40 years coaching high school football, 32 of them in his hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri.