Experienced special teams coach Chris Tabor joins Buffalo Bills’ staff

The Buffalo Bills have officially hired Chris Tabor as their new special teams coordinator, bringing in a seasoned veteran to oversee a unit that struggled in 2024.

Tabor, 53, replaces Matthew Smiley, who had served in the role since 2022 but was let go despite previous indications from head coach Sean McDermott that he would return.

Tabor, a graduate of Benton High School who also played football at Benedictine College, arrives in Buffalo with an extensive special teams background. His NFL coaching career began with the Chicago Bears in 2008, working as an assistant under special teams coach Dave Toub. He later moved on to lead the special teams units for the Cleveland Browns (2011-2017), the Bears again (2018-2021), and most recently, the Carolina Panthers (2022-2023).

Tabor’s coaching journey is also influenced by his family background. His father, Don Tabor, spent four decades coaching high school football, including 32 years in his hometown of St. Joseph.

Throughout his career, Tabor has consistently worked with top-tier special teams players, including Pro Bowlers like return specialists Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs, as well as kicker Phil Dawson. His ability to develop high-performing units has earned him a strong reputation across the league.

Tabor’s career has also been marked by an unusual degree of stability in a league where coaching turnover is frequent.

While Tabor and McDermott have not previously worked together, there is a connection between the two. McDermott and Toub overlapped on Andy Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles staff in the early 2000s.

Following the 2023 season, Tabor was not retained by the Panthers as new head coach Dave Canales opted for a staff overhaul. He spent the 2024 season away from the NFL but now returns to a Bills team that will look for immediate improvement in the kicking and return game.