Report: Bills propose rule to delay NFL hiring process

The Buffalo Bills proposed a new rule to the NFL that would prohibit any coaching or front-office interviews to take place until after the conference title games and any hiring until after the Super Bowl, a source told ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.

The New Orleans Saints reportedly have also been pushing for the same rule change.

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier generated strong interest for head coaching vacancies since the conclusion of the 2020 regular season. During Buffalo's playoff run in January, the New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers interviewed Daboll, while Frazier met with the Houston Texans.

"To me, it's an unfair process," Bills general manager Brandon Beane recently said. "Personally, I would love to see the hiring backed up so when you're trying to win this game, you work all year ... and now you're having guys have to think, in the back of their head, 'I don't want to lose this opportunity with Houston.' If I'm Leslie Frazier, 'I want to make sure I'm ready for that interview, but I've got to get ready for the Baltimore Ravens and stop Lamar Jackson.'

"I really hope the league will continue to look at moving this thing back, whether it's after the championship games or after the Super Bowl. I know that's a long time, but I'm at least going to try and ask for that so that these guys don't have to worry about it."

Daboll and Frazier weren't hired this offseason and will remain on Buffalo's sideline for at least one more year. The 13-3 Bills beat the Indianapolis Colts and Ravens during the playoffs before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game.

Each of the NFL's seven head coaching vacancies this season were filled before Super Bowl LV, and only three of them involved coordinators from non-playoff teams.

The Bills' proposal could be addressed during the league owners meetings this offseason.