The Buffalo Bills are targeting Oklahoma assistant head coach for defense and co-defensive coordinator Jay Valai for their defensive backs coach vacancy, according to league sources and reports.
Valai, who has served prominently on University of Oklahoma defensive staff under head coach Brent Venables, has emerged as a candidate for the role as the Bills refresh their coaching ranks ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
The reported interest from Buffalo comes as part of a broader coaching overhaul this offseason. After the team parted ways with longtime head coach Sean McDermott in January, former offensive coordinator Joe Brady was elevated to head coach.
The #Bills are targeting Oklahoma assistant head coach for defense/co-DC Jay Valai for a defensive backs coach job, sources tell @CBSSports.
Valai, who has been of interest to other NFL teams too as well as Notre Dame, helped OU rank sixth nationally in total defense this year. pic.twitter.com/GgeaCCLejK
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 1, 2026
Oklahoma Assistant Draws NFL Attention
Valai, 39, has developed a reputation as a defensive strategist and secondary developer since joining Oklahoma’s staff in 2022. Alongside his role as co-defensive coordinator, he has coached cornerbacks and nickelbacks and served as defensive pass game coordinator for the Sooners.
Per reports on social media from CBS Sports national reporter Matt Zenitz, “The Bills are targeting Oklahoma assistant head coach for defense/co-DC Jay Valai for a defensive backs coach job.”
Valai began his coaching career in 2016 and has prior stops at Georgia, the Kansas City Chiefs, Rutgers, Texas and Alabama before joining Venables’ Norman, Okla., staff.
Fit With Buffalo’s Defensive Transition
The Bills’ coaching renovation also includes bringing in Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator, a veteran NFL and college coach who previously held roles with the Denver Broncos and Wisconsin Badgers.
Leonhard’s early hires signal potential schematic changes for Buffalo’s defense, blending multiple fronts and hybrid pressures. Adding a coach with a strong background in defensive backs and pass defense aligns with the new coordinator’s vision.
Leonhard and Valai share roots in the Wisconsin football ecosystem—Leonhard as a former Badgers standout and Valai as a former Wisconsin defensive back—although their tenures there did not overlap.
If Valai accepts the position, he would be tasked with mentoring a secondary group that includes young talent like 2024 second-round pick Cole Bishop and 2025 first-round corner Maxwell Hairston, alongside veterans such as Christian Benford and Taylor Rapp.
Oklahoma Aims to Retain Coach
Back in Norman, the Sooners have reportedly begun internal discussions about how to retain Valai amid NFL interest. Oklahoma athletic officials recently granted several staff contract extensions, although Valai’s name has circulated nationally as a coaching candidate.
While college staffs often face turnover to the NFL, holding onto coordinators like Valai is a priority for programs with high defensive production. Oklahoma’s defense ranked among the top units nationally in 2025, bolstering his coaching profile.
Brady Builds Staff
Buffalo’s coaching changes are not limited to Valai’s potential hire. Pete Carmichael Jr. was named offensive coordinator on Jan. 31 after a long NFL coaching career including time as the Saints’ play caller.
Leonhard’s addition as defensive coordinator and Carmichael’s role on offense reflect strategic shifts under Brady’s leadership. Valai would join a staff undergoing substantive restructuring designed to position the Bills for competitive balance in 2026 and beyond.
Valai’s Reputation and NFL Aspiration
Valai’s work at Oklahoma has drawn attention from other NFL teams and Power Four college programs, including reported interest from Notre Dame for a defensive secondary position.
In interviews dating to his early Oklahoma tenure, Valai has stressed player development and schematic adaptability—attributes valued at the pro level. If hired, he would take on one of the critical positional coaching roles shepherding Buffalo’s defensive backfield.
