A former New York Jets coach could be making a surprising comeback.
Anthony Lynn is scheduled to interview with the Buffalo Bills this week for their vacant head coaching gig, per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Lynn, 57, was a finalist for the Bills’ head coaching vacancy in 2017 but ultimately lost out to Sean McDermott. With McDermott fired, Lynn is getting a second shot to convince Buffalo he should be the guy.
NFL Insider Josina Anderson revealed on social media that Lynn’s head coaching interview with Buffalo will take place on Saturday, January 24.
Lynn spent two years in Buffalo in 2015 and 2016, serving as the assistant head coach and running backs coach.
Most recently, Lynn has been with the Washington Commanders since 2024 as the run game coordiator and and running backs coach.
Lynn Had a Long Run With the Jets
The former Texas Tech product entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 1992. Lynn ended up playing for six years as a running back and core special teamer at the NFL level. At the tail end of his career, he won a pair of Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos.
After his playing career, Lynn immediately transitioned into the coaching ranks. Lynn has exclusively coached at the NFL level for 25 years.
Lynn joined Rex Ryan’s staff in 2009 and was with the Jets through 2014. For the first four years with the green and white, Lynn served as the team’s running backs coach. Lynn spent his final two seasons as the team’s assistant head coach, in addition to his duties as RB coach.
That run with the Jets was the last time the team was in the postseason.
Lynn served as the interim head coach of the Bills for one game in 2016, and he was the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers for four seasons.
During that time, Lynn finished with a 33-31 overall record. That included two winning seasons highlighted by a 12-4 campaign in 2018.
Hop Back in the Time Machine
All of these names from yesteryear are popping back up in the coaching cycle.
Longtime NFL columnist Gary Myers mentioned ex-Jets head coach Rex Ryan as a possibility for the New York Giants’ DC vacancy.
Lynn is a former assistant who worked under Ryan, and now he is getting head coaching interviews in 2026.
The Jets are in the middle of their search to find their next defensive coordinator. One of the seven names who is still in the mix is veteran coach Jim O’Neil.
The 47-year-old was also an old Rex Ryan assistant on the Jets. O’Neil was with the team from 2009 through 2012. He started as a defensive quality control coach, and then he transitioned into the assistant defensive backs coach.
What is old is new and what is new is old. Bell-bottoms are back! Trends come and go, and it appears some of those old-school names are rearing their head and becoming a factor in this year’s coaching cycle. Whether that be for head coaching gigs or even coordinator roles.
6-Year Jets Coach Surprisingly Interviewing for Bills HC Vacancy