On Monday morning, the Buffalo Bills announced the firing of head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons at the helm. Taking over in 2017, McDermott transformed the Bills from a basement-dweller into a consistent contender, but the inability to break through in the playoffs ultimately sealed his fate.
The shocking decision was revealed on ESPN’s Get Up, as host Mike Greenberg announced it to the world. Adam Schefter got the call during the show and followed up Greeny with some additional details, essentially saying the Bills wanted to tighten up their operation.
As McDermott exits, it comes on the heels of a heartbreaking 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round, marking yet another postseason disappointment for a franchise still looking for its first Super Bowl title – and moving into a new stadium next season.
GM Brandon Beane will keep his job and lead the search for a successor that can finally get this franchise over the hump.
While the Bills look to reset, questions loom about how this change will impact QB Josh Allen, who is 29 and never had another coach at the helm before. The firing not only ends a chapter of heartbreaking near-misses but also opens the door for a fresh mind to finally bring home that elusive Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo.
The Bills Under McDermott
McDermott’s nine-year run with the Bills was nothing short of transformative. Hired in 2017 after stints as defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, he inherited a team that was going nowhere fast.
Under his leadership, the Bills compiled an impressive 98-50 regular-season record, boasting the second-best winning percentage and second-most wins in the NFL during that span, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo snapped an 18-year playoff drought in his first season and won five consecutive AFC East titles from 2020 to 2024.
In the postseason, McDermott guided the team to an 8-8 record, with notable achievements like becoming the fourth team in the Super Bowl era to win a playoff game in six straight seasons.
The Bills reached the AFC Championship twice, in 2020 and 2024, both times falling to the Chiefs. Allen, drafted in 2018, has amassed the most playoff wins (8) and starts (15) by any quarterback without a Super Bowl appearance in the Super Bowl era.
Reasons Behind McDermott’s Firing
Despite the accolades, McDermott’s firing stems from persistent postseason failures. The Bills’ latest exit marked the fourth divisional round loss in five seasons, extending their Super Bowl drought that dates back to four consecutive appearances (and losses) from 1990 to 1993.
McDermott’s 0-3 record in postseason overtimes certainly didn’t help his case to stay in Buffalo. He defended the organization amid scrutiny, but ownership evidently sought a change to capitalize on Allen’s prime years.
This move aligns with broader NFL trends where sustained contention without titles leads to upheaval. The Bills’ inability to surpass powerhouses like the Chiefs in key matchups amplified the sense that a fresh voice was needed to push the team over the hump.
You can argue that mediocrity just isn’t tolerated like it once was. There have been plenty of coaches in recent memory – Tony Dungy, John Fox, Mark Jackson (NBA) – that were showed the door, only to the have their replacements go on and win titles.
Bills Head Coaching Search
With McDermott out, the Bills turn to Beane to orchestrate the coaching search amid their transition to a new stadium.
At 51, McDermott plans to continue coaching and could land with one of the seven teams currently seeking head coaches: the Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, or Cleveland Browns.
For Buffalo, the focus shifts to finding a leader who can maximize Allen’s talents and end the championship drought. Potential candidates remain speculative, but the hire will be pivotal for a roster built for contention.
Personally, I would love to see former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel trade in his capri khakis for a nice snow suit become the guy for the Bills. We all know McDaniel is an offensive mastermind and pairing him together with Allen could very well be the spark this franchise have coveted for quite some time.
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