As Bills coach Chan Gailey tries to put together a staff, there’s a chance that former Buccaneers defensive coordinator Jim Bates will be one of the new hires.
According to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Bates is a candidate for the position of defensive coordinator.
In 2000 and 2001, Gailey and Bates worked for the Dolphins, with Gailey running the offense and Bates in charge of the defense. Also, Bates served as assistant head coach/defensive line coach during Gailey’s two seasons as head coach of the Cowboys.
Bates was hired by the Buccaneers in 2009, and he was removed from the position during the season.
“We’ve settled things here and we’re free to go our separate ways,” Bates told Cummings regarding his one-year tenure in Tampa.