Bill Cowher Speaks Up About Buffalo Bills Coaching Recruitment

It is far from breaking news that Chan Gailey is the new Buffalo Bills head coach following the team’s dismissal of its entire staff, or that the team had its eye on Bill Cowher before Gailey.  What hadn’t been known was how much of an eye Cowher had towards Buffalo.

The answer is, not much of one.  Cowher had hinted at a return from retirement, and was mentioned as one of the crop of super-bowl head coaching candidates along with John Gruden, Mike Shanahan, and Mike Holmgren.

Shanahan landed in Washington, as the Redskins head coach replacing the departed Jim Zorn.  Holmgren stepped into Cleveland to be the Browns' President, taking the executive role over coaching and general manager positions he had held during his Seahawks and Packers career.

Cowher, like Gruden, elected to remain a commentator rather than rejoin the coaching ranks.  He stated he was "flattered" by the Bills’ efforts to recruit him, but ultimately rebuffed every Buffalo attempt at luring the former Steelers head coach to even colder climates.

“I have tremendous respect for Buffalo,” Cowher stated, “We had some talks.  It really didn’t go that far.  I couldn’t make the commitment.” He went on to commend the Buffalo franchise and fan base, while stating that the job was “a golden opportunity” for Chan Gailey.

“It just wasn’t the right place,” Cowher continued, “I pretty much go with a gut feel when I make decisions like that.  I think it through but there was nothing specific.”

His words were the first official comments about the Bills’ interest in him.  He also confirmed that the process went at least as far as an official face-to-face meeting with the Bills.

“Ultimately if the right situation came along I would entertain going back to coaching,” Cowher explained, “but I don’t know what it would be…there’s no set criteria.  I’ll know when it is.”

The team that does lure Cowher from retirement will be getting a super bowl winner just five years ago that takes a career 149-90-1 record with him.  Even when he first stepped down Cowher had alluded that his time away from coaching may not be permanent.

Some speculation has that when as being when Carolina head coach John Fox’s tenure ends.  Fox was retained by Carolina for 2010 after a disappointing 8-8 season, but his contract ends after and no extension is in the works.