BREAKING: Buffalo Bills part ways with coach as organization not pleased with the work that has been done this season
The Buffalo Bills are making a significant change to their staff, parting ways with head strength and conditioning coach Eric Ciano after more than a decade with the team. Ryan O’Halloran of The Buffalo News first reported the move, signaling the organization’s dissatisfaction with the team’s strength and conditioning performance this season.
Despite Buffalo having the lowest amount of money committed to players on Injured Reserve or the Physically Unable to Perform list in 2024—just $3.9 million—the concern appears to be the team’s ability to get players back to full strength and maintain their durability. General manager Brandon Beane emphasized this issue in his season-ending press conference, specifically noting tight end Dalton Kincaid’s struggles with durability.
Several other players, including rookies Keon Coleman and DeWayne Carter, also had difficulty returning from injuries, raising questions about the team’s ability to get players back to peak performance. Linebacker Baylon Spector was even rushed back after just three days of practice following a calf injury, only to reinjure himself and land back on IR.
Additional concerns included a perceived lack of strength development among the defensive line, Von Miller’s diminished impact post-injury, and James Cook’s struggles in pass protection due to a lack of strength. While Bills players gave the strength coaching staff an A grade in the 2024 NFLPA player survey, they noted that there weren’t enough staff members to adequately address the team’s needs.
Ciano, named Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2020, had been a respected figure in the Bills’ organization. However, McDermott’s decision suggests the team is looking for a fresh approach to better prepare players for the physical demands of the NFL season.