NFL notes: Bills tab Syracuse's Marrone

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Doug Marrone is set to try to turn around an NFL team after improving a college program down the road.

Marrone reached an agreement to become the Buffalo Bills' new coach Sunday, three people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. One person said the sides were still putting the finishing touches on the contract for Marrone to sign.

Marrone will replace Chan Gailey, who was fired Dec. 31, a day after the Bills closed their second consecutive season with a 6-10 record and extended the NFL's longest active playoff drought to 13 seasons. The 48-year-old Marrone, who is from the Bronx, went 25-25 in four seasons at Syracuse.

Syracuse was 26-57 over a seven-year period before Marrone took over at his alma mater. The Orange finished this season 8-5, winning six of their last seven games, including a 38-14 victory over West Virginia in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Marrone spent 2006-08 as the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator and was the New York Jets' offensive line coach from 2002-05.

Searches continue

The Philadelphia Eagles took their coaching search to Denver to interview Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Sunday after a lengthy meeting with Oregon coach Chip Kelly a night earlier in Arizona.

The Eagles only confirmed their meeting with Kelly after it ended. Regardless, multiple reports Sunday night said he was staying at Oregon.

While Kelly weighed his options, the Eagles already moved forward.

Owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman and team president Don Smolenski left Arizona for Denver on Sunday to continue the search to replace Andy Reid, who was fired after 14 seasons.

They met with McCoy for a few hours and then headed back to Philadelphia. The Eagles plan to interview Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley this week.

The Arizona Cardinals expect to speak in the coming week with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden about their vacant head coaching position. The Cardinals also confirmed that McCoy was interviewed in Denver on Saturday.

The Associated Press also reported that the Bears met with McCoy.

There was plenty of drama surrounding Kelly this weekend. A person familiar with the situation said Kelly was nearing a deal with the Cleveland Browns on Friday before he went ahead with his scheduled meeting with the Eagles on Saturday afternoon. Kelly's interview with the Eagles reportedly lasted several hours.

Kelly also met with Buffalo after his first meeting with Cleveland. In the end, he stayed put just like last year when he nearly accepted a job with Tampa Bay only to change his mind.