The Buffalo Bills announced former linebacker Jim Haslett as Sunday's Legend of the Game as Tampa Bay comes to Highmark Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET matchup.
"I'm excited, I'm excited to do it. I'm proud to be a part of it," Haslett said. "I was proud to be on the teams that we were on … I'm just excited to get back."
Haslett was a second-round draft pick, selected 51st overall by Buffalo in 1979. Over his career with the Bills from 1979-85, Haslett recorded 11 fumble recoveries for 10 yards, 7.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and five interceptions for 85 yards. In 1979, he was recognized as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He also played one season with the New York Jets in 1987, playing in three games and accumulating one interception for nine yards and one fumble recovery.
Following his time as a player, Haslett started out as an assistant with the Oakland Raiders and joined the New Orleans Saints as their linebackers coach in 1995. The next season, he became the Saints' defensive coordinator and continued that role with the Pittsburgh Steelers the year after. In 2000, he returned to New Orleans as the team's head coach. He led the Saints for six seasons, posting a 45-51 regular season record and 1-1 playoff record.
In 2000, the Saints won their first postseason game in history under Haslett. He won NFL Coach of the Year that season after a 10-6 record and claiming the NFC West divisional title.
Haslett returned to the Steelers in 2006 as the team's defensive coordinator and joined Washington's staff in that same role from 2010-14. In 2016, he returned to the NFL as the Cincinnati Bengals' inside linebackers coach. Haslett finished his NFL coaching career with the Tennessee Titans. He spent two seasons as the Titans' inside linebackers coach from 2020-21.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and became one of two Indiana University of Pennsylvania football players to have their jersey number retired.
Returning to Buffalo where he spent seven of eight seasons playing, Haslett reminisced on playing with former defensive tackle Fred Smerlas and linebacker Shane Nelson. He recalled being named the Bermuda Triangle with Smerlas and Nelson.
Looking at the 2025 season so far, Haslett pointed to quarterback Josh Allen as the key to the team and that Allen is a clear standout player on the field. Though Buffalo fell to Miami in Week 10, Haslett said he has no doubt that the Bills will fight their way back and put the loss behind them.
On Sunday, Haslett is looking forward to leading the charge and bringing his family back to Buffalo to watch a game at Highmark Stadium. The last time he brought his family to a Bills game was to visit his son, Chase, in Dallas in 2023. Chase Haslett was the assistant tight ends coach at the time for the Cowboys. Buffalo beat Dallas 31-10, and Haslett's daughters got to see their favorite team come out of the game with a win.
In Week 11, they'll have an opportunity to watch the Bills fight for a victory at home. Firing up the crowd before the game will be a new experience for Haslett, but he's excited to be a part of the atmosphere from start to finish.
"I think they're a really good football team,' Haslett said. "… They got a bunch of good players and it'll be fun to watch them play; but yeah, they're a … well-coached football team, and it'll be good to watch [on Sunday]."
