Throwback Thursday: New Coaches
Old meets new as we take a look back at some of the new Bills coaches' previous stops in the NFL.
Todd Downing will begin his first season as the Bills' Quarterbacks coach after spending the five years with the Detroit Lions, including the past four working with the quarterbacks. He spent his first season with the Lions as an offensive quality control coach.
A veteran offensive coach with more than a decade of NFL experience, Jim Hostler will enter his 16th year in the NFL this season as he joins the Bills' coaching staff as a senior offensive assistant. Hostler comes to Buffalo after spending the past six seasons as the Baltimore Ravens wide receivers coach.
Hostler joined the Ravens in 2008 after a three-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, serving as offensive coordinator in his final year (2007). During his time with the 49ers, Hostler played an important role in tutoring 2005 No. 1 overall pick QB Alex Smith.
Moore joins the Buffalo Bills coaching staff in 2014 as the team's wide receivers coach. Moore, a former 12-year NFL wideout with the NY Jets and Arizona Cardinals, spent the past four seasons as the Syracuse University wide receivers coach.
Entering his 37th season of coaching and 14th season at the NFL level, Fred Pagac (pronounced PUG-itch) joins the Bills' coaching staff as the team's linebackers coach. The veteran defensive coach arrives in Buffalo after spending the past eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
Entering his 37th season of coaching and 14th season at the NFL level, Fred Pagac (pronounced PUG-itch) joins the Bills' coaching staff as the team's linebackers coach. The veteran defensive coach arrives in Buffalo after spending the past eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
A five-time Super Bowl champion, Pepper Johnson will enter his 15th year in the NFL coaching ranks in 2014 as he joins the Bills' coaching staff as the team's defensive line coach. Johnson has spent the past 14 seasons working for the New England Patriots, serving in a variety of roles including eight seasons (2004-11) as the team's defensive line coach.
Johnson started 158-of-193 regular season games and played for four different teams during his 13-year NFL career from 1986-98. The two-time Pro Bowl performer won Super Bowl titles as a member of the New York Giants in 1986 and again in 1990. His presence helped form one of the most dominant defensive units in the history of the game. In 13 seasons, he totaled over 1,200 tackles, leading his team in tackles six different times. He also notched 25 ½ sacks, forced 12 fumbles, recovering eight, and intercepted 14 passes, including two that he returned for touchdowns.
Jim Schwartz brings 25 years of coaching experience with him as he begins his first season as the Bills' Defensive Coordinator. It will be his ninth season as a defensive coordinator in the NFL and he spent the past five years as the head coach of the Detroit Lions.
The majority of Schwartz's defensive experience came from his time with the Tennessee Titans under Jeff Fisher from 1999-2008. He served as a defensive assistant in 1999, the linebackers/third down package coach in 2000 and then the defensive coordinator from 2001-08. As the Titans' defensive coordinator from 2001-08, Schwartz's defenses thrived in two major categories that factored significantly in the team's overall success; rushing defense and third down conversion.
