Bills fire defensive backs coach Gill Byrd, hire John Butler

Posted January 30, 2018 6:00 am

By JOHN WAWROW

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott continues shuffling his staff by hiring former Houston Texans defensive backs coach John Butler to replace Gill Byrd, who was fired after one season.

Butler spent the past four seasons in the same role with the Texans before being fired after their season ended. He previously worked as a coach at the college level and has ties to McDermott. Both grew up in the Philadelphia area and played on the same high school football team.

Byrd is out despite overseeing a talented defensive backfield that accounted for 17 of Buffalo's 18 interceptions. Safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde had five each, while rookie first-round pick Tre'Davious White had four.

This is the latest change McDermott has made to his staff even though Buffalo ended a 17-season playoff drought.

Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison was fired and replaced by Brian Daboll. Defensive line coach Mike Waufle retired.

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