Bill Polian not joining Bills

— -- Bill Polian informed Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula on Thursday that he will remain as an ESPN NFL analyst and commentator for 2015 and beyond.

Pegula had reached out to Polian in an advisory capacity and eventually gauged his interest to head the team's front office. That led to further discussions, but Polian decided he was content with his current quality of personal and professional life. Pegula was understanding of Polian's position.

Polian's announcement comes a day after Doug Marrone exercised the opt-out clause in his contract to create a head-coaching vacancy for the franchise. Marrone already has interviews lined up with the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears, according to the New York Post.

Polian told the Buffalo News he initially believed Marrone and quarterback Kyle Orton, who announced his intention to retire after 10 seasons on Monday, would still be with the team.

"Then, the quarterback goes away and the coach disappears," Polian said. "So the job, from my perspective, changed. It went from a mentoring and advising role, which would have been fun, to a real heavy lift -- hire a new coach, hire a staff, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera."

Polian also spoke in depth about the matter Friday on ESPN's "NFL Insiders," including the role his family played in his decision.

"And then the other part of that equation is that at my stage in life, the family has a vote, and they all came in with signs with 'ESPN.' So it was unanimous," Polian said.

Polian, 72, has been adamant that media reports about his impending return to Buffalo, whether this week or next month, were erroneous. 

Polian reinforced to Pegula that his desire to stay with ESPN was set in stone. Polian has resisted overtures from other franchises, too.

Polian was the architect of a Bills team that went to four Super Bowls. He moved on to similar positions with the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts before he joined ESPN.

He is the only six-time recipient of the NFL Executive of the Year Award and is one of two finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when voting occurs Jan. 31.