Bills hire Gailey as head coach

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Chan Gailey’s second chance to prove himself as an NFL head coach comes with plenty of challenges.

The Buffalo Bills team he’s taking over hasn’t made the playoffs in a decade and its fans have been clamoring for Bill Cowher during a coaching search that seemed to take forever.

Instead of landing one of the big-name coaches with loaded resumes such as Cowher or Mike Shanahan, Gailey — who coached the Dallas Cowboys for two less-than-inspiring seasons — was introduced Tuesday as the 15th head coach in Bills history — and fifth in 10 years.

“I can’t say anything to change anybody’s mind. All I can do is go try to help us win football games,” Gailey said. “We win football games, everybody’s minds will be changed, right?”

Gailey was hired by first-time general manager Buddy Nix, ending a two-month search to replace Dick Jauron, who was fired in November. He takes over a Bills team coming off its fifth straight losing season following a 6-10 finish, and in the midst of a 10-year playoff drought that is tied with Detroit as the longest active streak in the NFL.

“I’ve been around enough winning programs ... that when I walk on the field I expect to win. I don’t just hope to win,” Gailey said. “But the bottom line is we’ve got to do it on the field.”

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