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The Bills find themselves in need of a new head coach to start the new year and initial speculation is centered on one of the team’s former quarterbacks.

Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reports that Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich is the “top target” as Buffalo looks to replace Doug Marrone after Marrone opted out of his contract on Wednesday. That belief is tied to the expected return of Bill Polian to the organization because Reich played or coached for Polian-run teams in Buffalo, Carolina and Indianapolis.

Andre Reed, one of Reich’s former teammates, would like to see him back with the Bills and thinks the hiring would be a popular one with Bills fans.

“He’s definitely a viable candidate. I think he would do a great job. Not only would he bring a lot of credibility, but Bills fans would probably — the roof would probably come off if he came in there and became the head coach,” Reed said, via NFL Media. “I’m definitely a proponent of him being the head coach there, if that’s the way and that’s what goes down.”

Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco spoke to the media Wednesday before news of Marrone’s departure broke, but Reich had already been in mix for openings around the league so Telesco did address the possibility that the Chargers would lose an offensive coordinator to a head coaching job for the second straight year.

“I think Frank, in his first year, did a very good job,” Telesco said, via U-T San Diego. “He’s smart. He’s detailed. He’s prepared for this for a long time. He’s a great teacher, a great communicator, and he can really handle a room as far as handling the offense. He did an excellent job, and I’m not surprised that some teams would have interest in him. But selfishly, I hope he stays here.”

More candidates could emerge, but it sounds like it won’t be much of a surprise if the Bills turn to the man who authored the biggest comeback in franchise history in an attempt to end the longest playoff drought in franchise history.