When it comes to special teams, the Buffalo Bills haven’t necessarily been known for stellar play in seasons of the past, especially when it comes to their return units.
Sure, they’ve had some solid overall aspects to special teams – coaches like Bobby April, a punter like Brian Moorman, a few good kickers, and a should be Hall-of-Fame gunner like Steve Tasker, who some may say revolutionized the unit’s importance as truly one-third of the game.
Still, for the most part they’ve had several years to forget when it comes to that part of the team.
Remember the horrific day in Nashville 25 years ago? Of course you do. Oh, and let’s not rehash the blunder from the Super Bowl in 1991.
Clearly, it hasn’t been pretty most of the time.
In fact, according to ftnfantasy.com the Buffalo Bills (1976, 2000) have had two of the top-10 worst special teams units of all time in terms of DVOA since 1950.
The 2000 unit ranked the worst.
That’s not to say the team has lacked excitement on special teams over the years, either, though.
Terrence McGee’s run in the early 2000s was quite impressive, and fans fondly remember the likes of Roscoe Parrish, C.J. Spiller, Leodis McKelvin, Andre Roberts, and even most recently Nyheim Hines for a brief stint.
However, there’s certainly not been what most NFL fans would call a superstar in the mix in Orchard Park.
Could that change this season and beyond?
Enter Brandon Codrington, the second-year return man out of little known North Carolina Central who Buffalo traded for at the time of initial 53-man roster cuts last offseason, sending a sixth-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for Codrington’s services and a future seventh-round selection.
Undrafted, Codrington was electric during the 2024 preseason on New York’s return units, particularly on the punt team, and he clearly managed to catch the eyes of talent evaluators at One Bills Drive.
Cutting ties with the presumed returner and draft pick Daequan Hardy for Codrington at the end of last August caught some by surprise – even the 5’9” defensive back himself.
“Coming in a week before the first game, (and) having to learn my surroundings, having to get comfortable and accustomed to my teammates – it was still a blessing, but it was definitely a lot (to take in),” Codrington said in a recent interview with the Buffalo Fambase Blog.
“So, I definitely feel a lot more comfortable this year (compared to last year). I had a full camp (and) was able to come away healthy. Now, I’m just trying to come into the season and impact the game.”
Despite the uncertainty, the Raleigh, N.C., native managed to provide an immediate spark for Buffalo last season as he took his first kickoff return with the team for 53 yards in the home opener against Arizona last year.
From there, Codrington was a more consistent contributor on punt returns than kickoffs as he ranked fourth in the league in total yards with 313 and fifth in punt return average at 11.6 for players with at least 15 returns. By season’s end he managed to rack up a total of 619 combined return yards between punts and kickoffs, eventually earning a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team for his efforts.
“Being able to play a full 17 games last year, it got me to a place where I feel like I’m a lot more comfortable now. From a professional aspect, I’m able to just treat every game like it’s another,” Codrington added.
“I feel like I haven’t really truly sat down and reflected (on last year). Of course, you know, I’ll have my quick little moments where I’m like – I’m thankful, and I’m like, ‘Man I really was able to accomplish what I’ve dreamed about my whole life.’ But, at the same time, I feel like there’s still an uphill battle mentally with me that I have to prove myself on an everyday basis. So, I wouldn’t say I’ve given myself any flowers yet.”
Despite experiencing some early success, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses for the NCC product last season.
Just a few short weeks after having a near 75-yard punt return touchdown called back due to a holding penalty in the Week 13 snow game versus San Francisco, Codrington’s string of bad luck continued as he suffered a hamstring injury in the meaningless Week 18 matchup against the New England Patriots.
It was the last game that he would play in the 2024-2025 season.
Unable to suit up in the wildcard round due to the injury, Codrington was then a healthy scratch for the final two games.
This meant no playoff experiences at Highmark Stadium, and certainly no chance to ignite a spark against Kansas City like he nearly did against the 49ers.
“When you don’t really deal with that many injuries in college or any injuries really at all – it’s definitely tough. But, you know, it kind of gave me a perspective of things. It just really taught me that anything can happen at any moment. Treat every rep (and) treat every game like it’s the last game,” Codrington said.
“I really look at it as a blessing, honestly. I would’ve preferred to be out there in the playoffs last year, but – at the same time – I can only control what I can control … My biggest thing that I learned about the NFL is that it’s (about) any given Sunday.”
It wasn’t how the former Broughton High School standout envisioned his year ending, but it didn’t discourage him.
Back to the drawing board in the offseason, Codrington took the advice of coaches and concentrated on being more intentional with everything that he did in his training while also trying to focus on adding value as a defensive back – something he knows is important if he wants to continue sticking around.
Last season, Codrington was mainly focused on outside corner, but he has since shifted his sights to the nickel position.
Changing his offseason diet and adding an extra 10-15 pounds, the defensive back managed to bulk up to 194 pounds to help with the more physical demands of the slot as well as to help be able to break through tackles more easily during returns.
“Everybody knows I’m here to return (kicks). But, you know, in my eyes I’m just as much of a DB (defensive back) as everybody else that’s in the DB room,” the former undrafted player said. “So, that was also my biggest thing – just making sure I’m tuned into the playbook, tuned into the gameplan for the week, and making sure I’m ready if or when my number is called.”
In addition to his own efforts on improving, the Bills also took matters into their own hands in an effort to boost their overall special teams play as they fired coach Matthew Smiley and replaced him with highly-regarded longtime coach Chris Tabor, who was most recently with the Carolina Panthers in 2023.
Throughout his time in the NFL, Tabor has overseen several above-average special teams units and has even coached all-time return men in Devin Hester (Chicago, 2008-2010) and Joshua Cribbs (Cleveland, 2011-2017).
Hester is considered by many to be the greatest returner in the history of the game with his 20 combined career return touchdowns and league-record 3,635 punt return yards, while Cribbs earned All-Pro honors during his time in NFL and is tied for second in history in most career kickoff return touchdowns with 8.
With that said, the résumé of his special teams coordinator isn’t lost on Buffalo’s current head return man.
“Coach Smiley was on me a lot and wanted to bring the best out of me (last season), but I would say that Coach Tabor is really on top of that, also. He’s real intentional with everything that I do,” Codrington said of his new coordinator.
“He’s making sure I’m comfortable with the gameplan for the week, that I’m looking at the kickers to see what type of kicks they like to kick, (and) what their gunners do on punt return. He’s just making sure I know every aspect of the team we’re facing and what we’re doing schematic-wise. I would say he’s a lot more intentional with me compared to last year … I’m definitely thankful to have Coach Tabor.”
After seeing his kickoff return duties relinquished to Ty Johnson and Ray Davis by season’s end in 2024, Codrington’s offseason efforts have allowed him to climb back atop the depth chart at both punt and kickoff returner through the first few weeks of the regular season.
According to FOX Sports, the HBCU alum is currently averaging 29 yards per kickoff return with a long of 41 yards while averaging just 5.3 yards per punt return with a long of 15.
Despite being currently ranked sixth in the league in total kickoff yards through three weeks, it’s admittedly been a bit of a slower start for the former N.C. Central Eagle, especially on punt returns, which Codrington said is his favorite of the two.
However, as the season grows longer, the former walk-on is hoping to show just how dynamic he can truly be at both spots for the entirety of the year and has no plans of surrendering either job any time soon.
He’s not shy about his lofty goals, either.
“I feel like it’s with anything you do, you know? Put in your 10,000 hours. So, I feel like it’s with the amount of reps you get – the more reps you get, the more comfortable you get with it, you know? I’ve been doing a different type of kick return my whole life, and now my first year in the league it’s different. So, that first year definitely took some adjusting. But, I would say I’m definitely starting to get more comfortable and get in my groove a little bit with it,” he said.
“I was able to be (on the) All-Rookie team last year, but this year I want to crack into that All-Pro/Pro Bowl range … I feel like I’m definitely capable of doing it. I just have to execute when the ball is in my hands.”
Whether or not the young return man is able to build off of last season’s success as the year rolls along remains to be seen.
However, if all goes as planned – the upcoming weeks will just be a precursor of what’s looming in the future.
Get your popcorn ready, Bills Mafia.
“Man, if you ask me – looking back at film – I feel like I should have had about four or five touchdowns last year on punt returns. But, I’m definitely planning on getting it rolling,” Codrington said.
“At the end of the day, I have to deal with the cards that I’m dealt … I feel like when things start popping off as they should this season – it’ll definitely open some eyes a little bit.”
The Bills will certainly be looking for some of that “pop” when they take the field against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y..
Editor’s babble: Thanks to John Green for his terrific contributions to our blog. You can also find John on Xwitter @JGreen_PRsports.
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