Even though the Jets granted the Bills permission, New York offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer declined the chance to interview for the Buffalo head-coaching job this week or after the season, according to sources.
Schottenheimer has remarked throughout the season how much he enjoys working with new Jets coach Rex Ryan and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, and how truly content he is with his current job as the offensive coordinator of the league's top-ranked running attack.
After Saturday's 24-14 playoff victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Paul Brown Stadium, Ryan bemoaned what he claimed is the near-certain loss of Schottenheimer after this season.
"I realize we're probably only going to have him for as long as we're in this tournament," Ryan said, "but we're enjoying it right now."
On Sunday, Schottenheimer reiterated his comments from last week that he's content with the Jets. He said he's fascinated by their future with rookies such as Sanchez and Shonn Greene and young Pro Bowl linemen Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
"I'd love to be a head coach, but I say that with an asterisk," Schottenheimer said Sunday after the Jets beat the Bengals in the wild-card round of the playoffs. "That's my dream, but I want to be a head coach when the time is right, when the situation is right. I don't want to just take a job to take a job.
"For the first time in three years, I'm really, really happy. I'm happy working for Rex. I love the area. I love the Jets fans. I love what we've done. I love the guys on our roster."
His words were reflected in his actions when he thanked the Bills for their opportunity but ultimately decided to remain where he is.
It also wasn't as if Schottenheimer needed the experience of interviewing for the job; he has interviewed for multiple head coach openings and is expected to have more opportunities in future years when he might be more willing to leave the Jets.
Adam Schefter is ESPN's NFL Insider. Information from ESPN.com's Tim Graham was used in this report.