The Bills have tapped an up-and-coming riser in the special teams coaching profession as their new coordinator. They've hired 37-year old Heath Farwell as the team's special teams coordinator.
Farwell, who excelled on special teams as an NFL player for 10 years, has spent the last three years coaching special teams. He was the Carolina Panthers assistant special teams coach last season and he spent 2016-17 as an assistant special teams coach for the Seattle Seahawks.
Farwell is a native of Southern California. He played college football at San Diego State where he was the team's defensive MVP in 2004. Farwell signed on as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings and played there for six seasons. He made the Pro Bowl with Minnesota in 2009, making 18 tackles and recovering two fumbles.
In 2011, Farwell signed with Seattle and played four seasons with the Seahawks, serving as their special teams captain the final three years. He was part of Seattle's Super Bowl XLVIII Championship team.
After retiring as a player, Farwell signed on as a coaching assistant with the Seahawks, spending two years in that job, before joining Carolina as assistant special teams coach last season.
Farwell told the Charlotte Observer last August how much satisfaction he gets out of coaching special teamers after playing in that spot for 10 years in the NFL.
"When I was a player, I got the thrill of winning and doing what I was supposed to do," Farwell said. "And now for me it's seeing those players execute what we taught them all week. That's my thrill. I get the most out of that. That means so much to me."
Farwell will replace former Bills special teams coordinator Danny Crossman.
