It’s another busy day at One Bills Drive with the Buffalo Bills conducting multiple interviews with two familiar names for their head coach opening. Saturday sees Buffalo first sitting down to talk with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver before wrapping up the day by conducting an interview with Washington Commanders running backs coach Anthony Lynn, per a report by The Athletic senior NFL insider Dianna Russini
.Weaver, 45, is coming off a frustrating second season leading the defense
in South Beach, and one that saw Miami underperform everywhere rosterwide other than at running back. The Dolphins’ defense ranked 24th in points allowed, 22nd in total yards allowed, 18th in passing yards allowed, and 26th in rushing yards allowed.
Having implemented a hybrid 3-4 base scheme in Miami, Weaver could bring an interesting element to a Bills defense in need of an overhaul along the defensive line and possibly at linebacker. He brings plenty of NFL experience as both a player and coach.
Weaver, a former defensive end with high school roots in Saratoga Springs, NY, was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in Round 2 of the 2002 NFL Draft. He signed with the Houston Texans during free agency ahead of the 2006 NFL season and remained with the club until his retirement at the conclusion of the 2008 season. As a player, the 6’3”, 290-pound Weaver finished his seven-year NFL career with 265 tackles (208 solo), 34 tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, 15.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 21 pass defenses, and three interceptions for 30 yards (per Pro Football Reference).
In 2010, Weaver entered the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant with the University of Florida football team. A year later, he joined the University of North Texas for one season as the team’s linebackers coach. It was in 2012 when Weaver transitioned to coaching at the NFL level with the New York Jets as their assistant defensive line coach.
Weaver joined the Bills in 2013 as a defensive line coach for then first-year head coach Doug Marrone. After a season in Buffalo, Weaver moved a few hours west to coach the defensive line of the Cleveland Browns for the 2014-15 seasons. In 2016, Weaver reunited with the Texans, this time as the team’s defensive line coach — a position he held until the end of the 2019 season.
It was in 2020 that Weaver made his first big coaching jump, adding the title of defensive coordinator to his resume with Houston for one season. Weaver was then hired by the Ravens in 2021 to be the team’s defensive line coach and run game coordinator. A season later, Weaver received his next significant coaching promotion, being named assistant head coach in Baltimore for the 2022 and 2023 NFL seasons, and in tandem with his assignment as run game coordinator. Then in 2024, Weaver flew south for the opportunity of defensive coordinator with the Dolphins.
