National Football League

Bills hire Crossman to take over special teams

Published Jan. 14, 2013 5:13 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Buffalo Bills have hired Danny Crossman to be special teams coordinator.

Crossman becomes the latest member of new coach Doug Marrone's staff. He joins the Bills after spending the past three seasons as the Detroit Lions special teams coach. Crossman has 10 years of NFL experience, including a five-year stint running the Carolina Panthers' special teams.

He replaces Bruce DeHaven, who was not rehired after the Bills fired coach Chan Gailey Dec. 31.

The Lions return units finished among the NFL's worst last season. Their coverage units were a little better, finishing 18th in punt-return average and 14th in kickoff-return average.

Marrone, hired by Buffalo after four seasons at Syracuse, is familiar with Crossman. The two were assistant coaches at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1993.