Jason Gildon had other options, but his familiarity with coach Mike Mularkey was a deciding factor in signing with the Buffalo Bills.
Mularkey was an assistant coach in Pittsburgh for eight of Gildon's 10 seasons with the Steelers. Gildon was drafted in the third round out of Oklahoma State in 1994, when Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe was the Steelers' director of football operations.
"It always helps to see a familiar face," Gildon said Wednesday after signing his contract. "Being able to come into a situation where I know the head coach and basically know the coaches here already, it was a comfortable situation."
Gildon, who was released by the Steelers last month for salary cap reasons, also talked to the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals. It is believed Gildon's one-year contract is worth about $1.25 million and includes a $500,000 signing bonus, plus incentives.
Mularkey was an assistant coach in Pittsburgh for eight of Gildon's 10 seasons with the Steelers. Gildon was drafted in the third round out of Oklahoma State in 1994, when Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe was the Steelers' director of football operations.
"It always helps to see a familiar face," Gildon said Wednesday after signing his contract. "Being able to come into a situation where I know the head coach and basically know the coaches here already, it was a comfortable situation."
Gildon, who was released by the Steelers last month for salary cap reasons, also talked to the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals. It is believed Gildon's one-year contract is worth about $1.25 million and includes a $500,000 signing bonus, plus incentives.
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