Buddy Nix

Last updated

Buddy Nix
Biographical details
Born (1939-12-06) December 6, 1939 (age 84)
Carbon Hill, Alabama, U.S.
Playing career
1957–1960 Livingston
Position(s) Fullback, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1964 Anniston HS (AL) (assistant)
1965–1966 Eufaula HS (AL)
1967–1968 Jonesboro HS (GA)
1969 Carson–Newman (DL)
1970–1971 Livingston (assistant)
1972–1975 Southern Miss (LB)
1976–1980 Auburn (DB)
1981–1983 LSU (DC/ILB)
1984–1992 Chattanooga
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1993–2000 Buffalo Bills (scout)
2001–2008 San Diego Chargers (DPP/AGM)
2009–2013 Buffalo Bills (EVP/GM)
Head coaching record
Overall44–54–1 (college)

Charles Kenneth "Buddy" Nix (born December 6, 1939) is a former American football coach and executive. He was the general manager of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) from 2009 to 2013. [1] Nix was a scout for the Bills from 1993 to 2000. He joined John Butler and A. J. Smith with the San Diego Chargers from 2001 to 2008 and returned to the Bills in 2009.

Contents

Early years

Nix was born in Carbon Hill, Alabama, where he later attended Talladega High School and played linebacker. Nix attended Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) in Livingston, Alabama, playing fullback on its football team.

Coaching career

Nix was head coach at Eufaula High School in Eufaula, Alabama, leading the Tigers to their first Border Conference championship in 1966.

Chattanooga

Nix had a successful college football coaching career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He was responsible for recruiting star wide receiver Terrell Owens.

Administrative career

Buffalo Bills

Nix was a regional scout under John Butler from 1993 to 2000 for the Buffalo Bills, specializing in the Southeastern United States.

San Diego Chargers

Nix left Buffalo with Butler and A. J. Smith after the 2000 season. He was initially the director of pro player personnel (2000–2001), but after Butler died, Smith was promoted to general manager, and Nix to assistant general manager.

Nix's job with the San Diego Chargers was to oversee both professional and college scouting and to be one of the main decision makers in each NFL draft. Nix was a major reason the Chargers turned around from a losing football team to a rebuilt, winning team. In 2004, three players Nix drafted were selected to the 2005 Pro Bowl. In 2005, six players Nix drafted were selected to the 2006 Pro Bowl. In 2006, eleven players Nix drafted were selected to the 2007 Pro Bowl. In 2007, eight players Nix drafted were selected to the 2008 Pro Bowl.

The Chargers won four of the last five AFC West titles with Nix as assistant GM and director of player personnel, in charge of college scouting and instrumental to the decision making process of their NFL drafts.

Buffalo Bills

Nix was hired as a national scout for the Buffalo Bills on January 26, 2009. He was named general manager of the Buffalo Bills on December 31, 2009, after Russ Brandon was promoted to CEO. [2]

He extended the contract of running back Fred Jackson [3] before Jackson was allowed to hit free agency. He also extended quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's contract. [4] This cleared the way for him to work to re-sign wide receiver Stevie Johnson once he hit free agency and then work to improve his defense by adding Mario Williams.

On May 13, 2013 the Bills announced that Nix would step away from his role as GM and transition to special assistant. [5]

Personal life

Nix has three children: Steve (wife: Sherry) and Stan (wife: Holli), and Stacey (husband: Alan). Nix also has six grandchildren: Hope, Ana, Tyler, Dakota, Sawyer and Tucker, and he has three step-grandchildren: Macaela, Haydn, and Jake. He is the great-grandfather to Lara Kate, Olivia, Ahlani, MJ, Lykan, late great granddaughter Lainee, and Roman.

His wife is Diann Abernathy of Lafayette, Alabama.

Head coaching record

College

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Chattanooga Moccasins (Southern Conference)(1984–1992)
1984 Chattanooga 6–55–11stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round
1985 Chattanooga 6–55–23rd
1986 Chattanooga 4–72–46th
1987 Chattanooga 6–54–3T–3rd
1988 Chattanooga 4–73–35th
1989 Chattanooga 3–7–12–4–15th
1990 Chattanooga 6–54–23rd
1991 Chattanooga 7–44–3T-4th
1992 Chattanooga 2–90–78th
Chattanooga:44–54–129–29–1
Total:44–54–1

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Stroud</span> American football player (born 1978)

Marcus LaVar Stroud is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 13th overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft. He was a member of the NFL's Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots.

Albert J. Smith was an American professional football scout and executive. He served as a part-time scout for several NFL and USFL teams before joining the Buffalo Bills in 1986, serving as a scout and executive for them for 14 years. With the Bills, the team won four AFC Championships. He joined the San Diego Chargers in 2001 as a director of pro personnel, and was promoted to general manager and executive vice president for them two years later. He stayed with the Chargers until being fired following the 2012 season. Smith's son, Kyle, is the assistant general manager of the Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Butler</span> American football player (born 1983)

Bradley Jay Butler, Jr. is a former American football guard and tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Bills in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played high school football at E.C. Glass High School and college football at the University of Virginia.

The history of the Buffalo Bills began in 1960, when the team began play as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL), winning two consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. The club joined the National Football League (NFL) as part of the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The Bills have the distinction of being the only team to advance to four consecutive Super Bowls between 1990 and 1993, but also the regrettable distinction of losing all four of them.

Ronald Smith Billingsley was an American football player, a defensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL).

The 1998 Buffalo Bills season was the team's 39th season, and 29th in the National Football League (NFL). The season marked an important development in the Bills’ history as a quarterback controversy would consume the whole season between Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie. It would also mark the beginning of the Wade Phillips era. The Bills improved on the previous season's output of 6–10, and finished second in the AFC East with a 10–6 record, and would qualify for the playoffs only to lose in the wild card round to the Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Johnson</span> American football player (born 1986)

Steven John Johnson Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Johnson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft and also played for the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Kentucky. Despite never making the Pro Bowl, Johnson was the first Bills receiver to post back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving, and has been considered one of the best draft steals in franchise history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Hughes</span> American football player (born 1988)

Jerry Ray Hughes Jr. is an American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs, where he was twice recognized as a consensus All-American before being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. Hughes has also played for the Buffalo Bills, with whom he has played the majority of his pro career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Wood</span> American football player (born 1986)

Eric Wood is an American former professional football player who was a center for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals and was selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Bills with the 28th overall pick. Wood played nine seasons in the NFL, including a Pro Bowl appearance, before retiring following the 2017 season due to a neck injury. Since 2019, he has been the color commentator and analyst on the Buffalo Bills Radio Network.

Douglass G. Whaley is an American football executive and former collegiate player. He is the current senior vice president of player personnel for the XFL and from 2013 to 2017 was the general manager of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Les Snead</span> American football executive (born 1971)

Samuel Lester Snead is an American football executive who is the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL), a position he has held since 2012. Prior to joining the Rams in 2012, Snead served in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons front offices from 1995 to 2011.

Tom Telesco is an American football executive who is the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2013 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O. J. Howard</span> American football player (born 1994)

Oterrius Jabari "O. J." Howard is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Alabama, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minkah Fitzpatrick</span> American football player (born 1996)

Minkah Annane Fitzpatrick Jr. is an American football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft before being traded to the Steelers during the 2019 season.

Christopher Grier is an American football executive who is the general manager of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL), a position he has held since 2016. Having been with the organization since 2000, Grier held various scouting roles with increasing responsibility with the Dolphins. He also has past experience in the personnel department of the New England Patriots, having served there from 1994–1999.

Brandon Beane is an American football executive who is the general manager for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL), a position he has held since 2017. Prior to joining the Bills, Beane served in the personnel department of the Carolina Panthers organization from 1998 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Gaine</span> American football executive

Brian Gaine is an American football executive who works as the assistant general manager for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He served as the general manager of the Houston Texans from 2018 to 2019. Gaine began his executive career in 1999 with the New York Jets as a scout and worked in the scouting departments of the Bills, Texans, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. C. Jackson</span> American football player (born 1995)

Jerald Christopher Jackson is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Maryland and signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Jackson earned Pro Bowl honors during the 2021 season and was part of the Patriots team that won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl LIII. After his rookie contract expired in 2022, he joined the Chargers before being traded back to the Patriots in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siran Neal</span> American football player (born 1994)

Siran De'Vonte' Neal is an American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Jacksonville State and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Neal plays primarily on special teams.

Joseph Schoen is an American football executive who is the senior vice president and general manager of the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). Schoen previously served as the assistant general manager for the Buffalo Bills from 2017 to 2021. Schoen began his NFL career as a scout for the Carolina Panthers before serving in the scouting department for the Miami Dolphins from 2008 to 2016 and joining the Bills in 2017.

References

  1. Brown, Chris (January 26, 2009). "Scouting veteran Nix returns to Bills". Buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  2. Brown, Chris (December 31, 2012). "Brandon promoted to CEO; Nix named Bills GM". Buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  3. "Bills' Jackson rewarded with contract extension". May 7, 2012.
  4. "Ryan Fitzpatrick Agrees to $59 Million Extension with Bills". October 28, 2011.
  5. Wawrow, John (May 13, 2013). "Buddy Nix steps down as Bills GM". Yahoo! Sports . Retrieved May 13, 2013.