The Buffalo Bills today announced that GM Doug Whaley has a signed contract extension with the team. In accordance with team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are pleased to announce a multi-year contract extension with our General Manager Doug Whaley,” said Owner Terry Pegula. “Doug has demonstrated an excellent eye for talent and has been an asset to the organization on many levels. I look forward to working closely with Doug and Coach Ryan for many years to come.”
“I am excited for this opportunity Terry and Kim Pegula have given me and my family to continue to work for the Buffalo Bills franchise,” said General Manager Doug Whaley. “I look forward to getting back to work with our owners, Rex Ryan, Russ Brandon and our scouting staff to build a winning team that this tremendous and supportive fan base deserves.”
Under Whaley’s watch, the Bills recorded consecutive eight-plus win seasons for the first time since the 1999/2000 seasons. In addition, the Bills won four division games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1998 and 1999.
During his tenure as Bills GM, Whaley has displayed a strong track record of his ability to bolster the Bills roster whether it be via the draft, free agency or trades.
Whaley’s draft record has been exemplified through the picks of players such as WR Sammy Watkins in 2014 and CB Ronald Darby and RB Karlos Williams in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Since joining the Bills in 2014, Watkins almost immediately began reshaping the Bills record books while accumulating the most receptions (125) and receiving yards (2,029) by any Bill in team history during the first two seasons.
Drafted in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Darby became a day one starter for the Bills at corner as he set a franchise record for the most passes defensed by a rookie with 21 passes broken up during his first professional season. Whaley pulled the tab on Williams in the fifth round and by Week 10 of the 2015 season Williams became the second player in NFL history to score a TD in each of the first six games he played in, joining New England running back Robert Edwards who accomplished the feat in 1998. Williams finished his season with 517 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns.
Whaley’s work in free agency was highlighted this past season as he revamped the Bills offense through the additions of QB Tyrod Taylor and G Richie Incognito.
In his first season as the team’s starter, Taylor showed off his abilities as he set a team record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 568 yards on the ground and his 99.4 passer rating marked the second best in team history behind only Jim Kelly in 1990. Incognito started all 16 games for the Bills in 2015 at left guard and helped pave the way to the Bills having both the top rushing attack in the NFL in yards (2,432) and yards per carry (4.78).
Whaley’s knack for cutting a deal in the trade market was highlighted by him leading the Bills to make a NFL-high eight trades during the 2014 league year. Whaley capped his work at the end of the 2014 league calendar by pulling off a trade for RB LeSean McCoy who went on to earn Pro Bowl honors for the Bills in 2015.
