Brandon Beane replaces Doug Whaley as Buffalo Bills head coach
Thursday 11 May 2017 12:19, UK
Buffalo Bills have hired Brandon Beane as their new general manager, replacing the departed Doug Whaley in the role.
A matter of days after the 2017 NFL Draft, the Bills confirmed Whaley's exit along with his entire scouting staff and they have wasted no time in filling the void that completes their summer overhaul.
Sean McDermott was appointed as head coach as successor to Rex Ryan who was fired in the final week of the regular season and Beane's appointment underlines the 43-year-old's growing influence at Orchard Park.
McDermott moved to Buffalo from his position as Carolina Panthers defensive co-ordinator and Beane now follows in his footsteps having been assistant general manager to Dave Gettleman in Charlotte for the past two years of his 19-year NFL career.
"During our search for a new general manager, Brandon stood out to Kim [Pegula] and I as he embodies the type of leader and type of person we want in our organisation," said Bills owner and CEO Terry Pegula in a statement.
"Brandon has excelled in a variety of roles for a Panthers team that has consistently competed at a high-level in this league.
"We feel his vast understanding and experience in many facets of football operations will be invaluable to our club moving forward."
Beane has spent his whole career with the Panthers and leaves with the blessing of Carolina head coach Ron Rivera, who paid tribute to Beane's role with the franchise.
"I am very excited for Brandon Beane. Brandon is a guy who started at the bottom and worked his way up," read a statement from Rivera.
"He started as an intern here, starting in the football operations department and eventually became the head of the football operations department.
"He became our assistant general manager and has been a tremendous help to me over the last few years as we made our runs in the playoffs - three straight NFC South division champions."
