For the first time this spinning of the coaching carousel -- but not the last -- an FBS program has lost its head coach to the NFL.
Very early Sunday morning, ESPN.com‘s Adam Schefter reported that the Buffalo Bills have hired Syracuse’s Doug Marrone to fill its vacancy at head coach. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport subsequently nodded his head in that general direction as well.
Neither the club nor the school has confirmed the report.
Marrone has spent the past four seasons at his alma mater, compiling a middling 25-25 record with the Orange. Syracuse, though, had won just 26 games in the seven years prior to his arrival. That rebuilding job on the part of the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator obviously caught the attention of the NFL as Marrone not only interviewed with the Bills but with the Cleveland Browns as well.
It had also been reported that Marrone had interviews scheduled this coming week with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers.
At this point in time, it’s unclear which direction Syracuse will go to fill a job that’s come open a month ahead of National Signing Day. The school is expected to address Marrone’s departure at some point today.
Also today, Oregon’s Chip Kelly is expected to decide between offers from the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. Kelly also interviewed for the Bills vacancy.