Bills Special Teams Assistant Coach Interviewed by Panthers for Promotion

The Buffalo Bills continue to see their coaching staff examined for potential promotions across the league. On Monday, assistant special teams coach Cory Harkey got the look.

The Carolina Panthers coaching staff saw an exodus when Sean McDermott left to be the head coach of the Buffalo Bills. After seven seasons, the pipeline may start to work in reverse.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales is putting together the staff for his first head coaching endeavor. In his due diligence, his eyes have crept toward Western New York.

On Monday, Carolina interviewed Bills assistant special teams coach Cory Harkey to be the team’s special teams coordinator, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Aug 19, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Darius Latham (75) tackles Los Angeles Rams tight end Cory Harkey (46) during the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum / Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Harkey spent a half-decade in the league with the then-St. Louis Rams, playing primarily on special teams from 2012-2016. His final season – in Los Angeles – ended with a triceps injury.

Well-respected for his special teams prowess, Harkey quickly transitioned to the coaching ranks. He spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons as the tight ends coach for the (now defunct) Azusa Pacific Cougars. He joined Tennessee State in 2021 in the same role before being added to Buffalo’s staff as the assistant special teams coach. He has spent the last two seasons with the Bills.

In his first season on the job, Buffalo was the best special teams unit in the league by defense-adjusted value over average. While that was an improvement from being ranked 19th in 2021, the Bills came back to earth in 2023 when they ranked 15th.

The Panthers ranked 23rd in that metric this season. Carolina, according to Joe Person, is also considering Seattle Seahawks assistant Tracy Smith.

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Carolina decided to move on from special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, who was the interim head coach after owner David Tepper fired Frank Reich in the middle of the season.

Expect Buffalo’s coaching staff to get additional interviews as the final head coaching hires of the 2024 cycle get wrapped up.