The Buddy Nix era in Buffalo is over. The 73-year old Nix announced today that he is stepping down as General Manager of the Buffalo Bills. Nix will stay with the team as a special assistant.
Nix was hired in December 2009 and presided over the team for the last 3 years.
The team is currently stating that no decision has been made on a successor, however most media and analysts expect that the role will go to Bills Assistant GM Doug Whaley. Whaley was given a contract extension in February and it was believed at the time that he was being groomed as Nix’s successor. It would be a major shock if someone other than Whaley becomes the next Bills General Manager.
Nix started his NFL career as a scout for the Buffalo Bills in 1993. He left Buffalo in 2000, moving on to the San Diego Chargers as Director of Pro Player Personel. He was promoted to Assistant GM in 2001, and remained in that position until moving back to Buffalo as General Manager.
While the Bills didn’t have great success on the field during the Nix era, ultimately the final chapter of his time as GM is yet to be written. At last month’s draft the Bills made a somewhat surprising pick of Florida State Quarterback E.J. Manuel in the first round. The success of this pick will define Nix’s career, especially for a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 2000 and has been searching for a permanent solution at quarterback since the retirement of franchise icon Jim Kelly.
In addition to signing the recent draft picks, the main issue facing the new Bills GM, whoever that may be, is the future of Free Safety Jarius Byrd. The Bills used the franchise tag on Byrd in the offseason but he has yet to sign his tender or a long term contract. Byrd emerged as one of the best free safeties in the NFL last year and a great ball hawk in his centre field position. He was an anchor to the Bills secondary and his return to the lineup is necessary for Buffalo.
You can follow @RoryHarbaughNFL on twitter for all your NFL needs, and the follow the site @lastwordonsport while you are at it
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? If so, check out our “Join Our Team” page to find out how.
