The Buffalo Bills haven't won a Super Bowl, but they have still found a lot of success over the years and a big reason why has been their coaches throughout their history. The Bills have had 18 coaches over the course of the franchise's history, some having multiple stints with the team.
Let's look at the five best Bills coaches of all time.
5. Sean McDermott
Sean McDermott has been in charge of the Bills for only three seasons, but he has still done enough in the short time period to find himself on this list.
McDermott has gone 25-23 during the regular season with Buffalo, and led the team to a pair of postseason berths. Even though they still haven't won a game in the playoffs, it's clear that McDermott has changed the culture of the Bills. if McDermott can keep winning regular-season games and start to stack up wins during the postseason, he should climb up the rankings.
4. Chuck Knox
Chuck Knox took over the Bills in 1978 after successful years in charge of the Los Angeles Rams. The expectations were high but he got off to a slow start in Buffallo. His first two years were losing seasons, a surprising outcome given the expectations. In 1980, however, Knox finally got the Bills back to being contenders.
The Bills went 11-4 during the regular season, which was enough to get back to the playoffs for the first time in years. The next season was also a success, with Knocks leading the Bills to a playoff victory.
Knox had more success coaching with other teams, but he still did enough with the Bills to find himself on this list.
3. Wade Phillips
Wade Phillips was only with the Bills for three seasons, but he was successful during that time. Phillips was Buffalo's defensive coordinator before taking over as the head coach during the 1998 season. Phillips only lasted three years with the Bills, but he led the team to the playoffs in two of those.
Buffalo went 29-19 in the regular season under Phillips' leadership, but the playoffs were marked by heartbreak. Phillips was on the sideline during the 1999 playoffs when the Bills were on the wrong side of the Tennessee Titans' Music City Miracle win. After the 2ooo season, Phillips was fired, a shocking move at the time. Looking back, the decision was probably the wrong one.
2. Lou Saban
Lou Saban was a standout linebacker during his playing days, but he also found a lot of success once he hung up the cleats and picked up the whistle. Saban was in charge of the Bills from 1962-65 and had a second stint from 1972-76.
Overall, Saban finished his time in Buffalo with a 68-45-4 record. During the 1964 season, Saban finished with a 12-2 record and won the AFL Championship. During the 1965 season, Saban also led the Bills to an AFL Championship. In 2015, Saban was inducted into the Bills' Wall of Fame.
1. Marv Levy
There's no question who Buffalo's best head coach is. Marv Levy took over the Bills before the 1986 season and stayed with the team through 1997. Levy led the team to four straight Super Bowls, unfortunately the team did not win any of them. Levy finished his career with a 112-70 record, including 11 playoff victories.
There is still the heartbreak of never winning a Super Bowl during his time in Buffalo, but Levy is still the best coach to grace the sidelines for the Bills. He may also be the best coach in the NFL to never win a Lombardi Trophy. In 2001, Levy was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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