The Buffalo Bills are reportedly drawing closer on a deal that would make Rex Ryan their next head coach, according to ESPN.
The Bills have interviewed 12 different candidates since Doug Marrone unexpectedly opted out of his four-year deal after just two seasons. Ryan met with Buffalo for a second time Saturday night and must have impressed them.
ESPN sources say that Ryan is most likely to tap San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator Greg Roman to run Buffalo's offense. The Bills have maintained all along that they would like to keep defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on board, however, that is contingent on a meeting between Schwartz and Ryan. Schwartz did lead the Bills to a No. 4 overall defensive ranking this season and a league-leading 54 sacks.
Ryan was the head coach for the New York Jets for the last six years. Despite some early success - two straight AFC Championship Game appearances - the Jets have not made the postseason since 2010. Ryan and general manager John Idzik were fired after a 4-12 season this year.
Ryan had also been mentioned as a potential top candidate for the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching position.
The 52-year-old coach will face much of the same problem with the Bills that he had in New York: a lack of a true franchise quarterback. Veteran journeyman Kyle Orton retired this offseason and 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel was benched after just 14 career starts. Rumors that Buffalo general manager Dough Whaley wanted the next coach to develop Manuel had gained steam last week, though quarterback development is not Ryan's forte.
The Bills finished 9-7 this past season, their first winning record since 2004.
