Overview
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jay Valai is set to become Buffalo’s cornerbacks coach, though the team has not announced the hire.
- Valai serves as Oklahoma’s assistant head coach for defense and co-defensive coordinator while coaching cornerbacks and nickelbacks, and OU ranked sixth nationally in total defense last season.
- New Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is driving the effort to add Valai, drawing on their shared Wisconsin roots.
- Notre Dame and multiple NFL teams also showed interest in Valai, and Oklahoma coach Brent Venables has worked to retain him, according to reports.
- The potential hire would extend Buffalo’s staff overhaul after Joe Brady replaced Sean McDermott and added Pete Carmichael Jr. and Leonhard as coordinators.