The Buffalo Bills’ tumultuous times began after their loss to the Broncos in the Divisional playoff game. The franchise fired head coach Sean McDermott, with the favored replacement, Philip Rivers, also announcing a shocking withdrawal. However, that was not the end of the shake-up for the Buffalo Bills.

As per a report by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, four practice squad members hit free agency, a quiet signal that the overhaul for next season is most definitely starting from the ground up.

Among the players to leave, the most shocking name is definitely that of linebacker Matt Judon.

A veteran in the NFL, Judon has had 72 sacks and one defensive touchdown to his name since the Ravens drafted him in 2016. The same goes for Shaq Lawson, who had his third stint with the Bills after being drafted by the team in the first round (19th overall) in 2016.

Playing under McDermott’s tutelage till 2019, the defensive end then returned to Buffalo in 2022 after stints with the Miami Dolphins (2020), New York Jets (2021). Then, after the Carolina Panthers released him in October 2024 following just one game, the Bills signed him in November last year.

Notably, the 31-year-old has 26 sacks, 207 tackles, 77 quarterback hits and seven forced fumbles in 110 career games (38 starts).

Additionally, quarterback Shane Buechele and placekicker Matthew Wright also find themselves with an uncertain future.

While Judon and Lawson were signed to the practice squad in December 2025, Buechele and Wright joined the team in January 2026, before the Wild Card playoff game. All of them were signed to stack their practice squad ahead of the playoffs.

Initially undrafted during the 2021 NFL Draft, Buechele was signed by the Chiefs, before being waived. He then joined the team from 2023 to 2025, before rejoining Kansas in 2025. Unfortunately, he was released, and the Bills re-signed him to safeguard the QB position given Allen was suffering from soreness, and Trubisky was the only other option.

Furthermore, signing Matthew Wright was also a strategic move by the Bills, after kicker Matt Prater re-aggravated his right quadriceps injury during the team’s 35-8 win over the New York Jets in Week 18. Boasting an 88.2% career field goal rate, the player scored 5-of-5 field goals in 2025.

Unfortunately, with their playoff dreams over, the franchise won’t need them, at least for now.

That said, while the Bills let go of so many players, former quarterback Philip Rivers turned the tables on them.

Philip Rivers won’t replace Sean McDermott

With Sean McDermott’s firing, there were several potential candidates who could replace him. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers became one of the leading names for the role after the franchise reportedly interviewed him on Friday in Florida. However, as per reports, Rivers withdrew from the role.

Notably, Rivers does not have any experience at the collegiate or professional level, but the Bills were ready to put their faith in him. The former quarterback was also open to coaching in the NFL, having served as the coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.

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“I do think, as humbly as I can say it, that I could coach at this level,” Rivers said. “I know enough about the game and about the guys, and from a leadership standpoint, camaraderie, all that comes with it. But again, that’s not something that I’m sitting here pursuing.”

But the thought has yet to become a reality. Things have gotten even trickier for the Bills since they won’t be able to interview Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks‘ OC. As per the latest announcement, if the Bills had conducted the first interview, they could have called him for a second. Since they have not done that, they can’t request an interview with him until the Super Bowl is over. With so much going on in Buffalo, it remains to be seen how they tackle the situation.