“We have agreed to a contract extension with Doug Whaley!” she tweeted, along with a photo of Whaley with pen in hand and on contract, flanked by co-owner Terry Pegula and team president Russ Brandon. That was an improvement from the previous three-year stretch (2010-12), when the Bills went 16-32, but Buffalo took a step back this season.
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The extension was reached after Whaley, coach Rex Ryan and other team officials spent the weekend holding postseason meetings with the Pegulas at their home in Florida.
Whaley’s contract now runs through the 2019 season, which is in line with Ryan, who has four years left on the five-year deal he signed upon being hired last January. Whaley denied the tension and has been rewarded with a contract extension.
“The only thing that I expect to do is every day come in here and try to get better”, said Whaley in a release.
Would Terry and Kim Pegula be able to justify keeping Ryan and Whaley in place for another season if the team finishes 6-10, 7-9 or 8-8 again? “And everything else takes care of itself”. “Kim, Russ and I look forward to working and collaborating with Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan in forming a winning future for the organization”.
With the extension out of the way, Whaley can turn to addressing several issues he faces in keeping much of Buffalo’s roster intact this offseason.
Whaley has been the general manager of the Bills since May 2013 and had one year remaining on his deal.
During Whaley’s time as general manager, the Bills have made a number of bold moves, including trading up for Sammy Watkins in the 2014 NFL Draft and trading for running back LeSean McCoy.
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The New Orleans Saints fired Rob Ryan in November after he served as the team’s defensive coordinator for two-plus seasons.
