With the NFL Scouting Combine in full swing and free agency fast approaching, teams around the league are still trying to build their coaching staff for the 2025 season. The Atlanta Falcons already moved on from Jimmy Lake as their defensive coordinator after only one season and brought back Jeff Ulbrich to replace him.
Ulbrich is not the only former Falcons coach to have a new role. Ryan Nielsen, who was Atlanta's defensive coordinator before Lake, also had a disappointing 2024 season, leading to his demotion.
Bills HC Sean McDermott says they hired Ryan Nielsen as senior defensive assistant who will work with defensive line.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 24, 2025
McDermott says they are interviewing to hire a new strength & conditioning coach. They moved on from former S&C coach Eric Siano, who was hired by Jaguars.
Ryan Nielsen Joins Bills Coaching Staff as Senior Defensive Assistant
The Buffalo Bills reportedly hired Nielsen as a senior defensive assistant. Head coach Sean McDermott said that Nielsen will work with the defensive line.
This is a disappointing development for Nielsen, who seemed like he had a promising career ahead of him after his first two seasons as a defensive coordinator.
Nielsen first became a DC with the Saints in 2022, leading them to a top-ten finish in both yards and points allowed. He then became the defensive coordinator for the Falcons and helped improve the defense significantly. In his only season in Atlanta, Nielsen led the team to 18th in points and 11th in yards allowed per game, both huge steps forward from the season prior with Dean Pees.
Once Raheem Morris brought in Lake as his defensive coordinator, Nielsen took the Jaguars defensive coordinator job. Things didn't go according to the plan under head coach Doug Pederson there. Jacksonville finished with arguably the worst pass defense in the league and allowed the second-most total yards.
Now, Nielsen is joining another defensive unit that took a step back in 2024. Under defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, the Bills weren't a top-ten defense in the NFL for the first time in five seasons. Nielsen will hope to turn things around in Buffalo as they continue their attempt to finally get over the hump and make the Super Bowl.