Buffalo Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer has been put on administrative leave after he was arrested at the weekend for allegedly punching a boy and threatening to kill the boy’s family.
The Bills announced their decision on Tuesday, two days after Kromer, 48, was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge in Walton County, Florida.
Bills president Russ Brandon said in a statement: “Over the last few days our organization has continued to gather information in regards to the alleged incident involving Aaron Kromer.
“We have been in regular discussions with the league office and have decided to place Aaron on indefinite paid administrative leave in accordance with the league’s personal conduct policy while we continue to work our way through the investigative process with the league.”
Kromer and his son, Zachary, got into an altercation with his neighbor’s son in Inlet Beach, Florida, according to a police report released on Monday.
Kromer and Zachary reportedly confronted three boys, who had been fishing on the beach, over their use of beach chairs. Kromer allegedly grabbed the boys’ fishing pole and threw it into the water. He then allegedly pushed one of the boys to the ground and punched him in the face before telling the boys to return the chairs.
The police report said Kromer caused bodily harm to the victim’s left eye. The Bills assistant also allegedly threatened to kill the victim’s family if he reported the incident.
The Bills assistant coach was arrested at 1.39am and released from custody on bond at 3.10am, according to jail records.
Kromer joined Rex Ryan’s Bills coaching staff in January after two seasons as the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator. He first started in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001. Kromer also spent time with the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints, where he was interim head coach for six games in 2012.
