Sean McDermott’s tenure as head coach of the Buffalo Bills ended Monday despite his time with the team making playoff history and a complete overhaul of the organization’s culture.
The Bills, led by McDermott for nine years, had the second-most wins (98-50) of any franchise since 2017. He took Buffalo to the playoffs in eight of those seasons, reaching the AFC Championship Game twice but failing to appear in the Super Bowl.
In order to take the next step with 2024 MVP quarterback Josh Allen and find a path to the elusive first Super Bowl title, the Bills will have to hire a new coach, and that responsibility will fall to general manager Brandon Beane. Bills owner Terry Pegula announced Monday that Beane has been promoted to president of football operations, giving him increased responsibilities, including overseeing the coaching search.
So how did the Bills get here — firing McDermott and promoting Beane two days after a 33-30 division loss to the Denver Broncos — and what does it mean?
Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg, senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler and NFL analyst Ben Solak answer all the pressing questions after Monday’s news that the Bills are moving in a new direction.
Why was Sean McDermott fired? Was the loss in Denver a big reason for the decision?
He didn’t finish the job. In the results business, McDermott has been incredibly successful, winning 10 or more games in seven straight seasons, the longest streak in the NFL. The Bills are one of six teams in the Super Bowl era to have such a long streak.
The shot came down to that McDermott he didn’t it did, but perhaps more so, Pegula’s clear decision to go along with Beane’s vision of a team moving forward and a general manager succeeding in accepting the owner’s faith in building a vision for the future. Beane and McDermott together have not achieved a common goal in leading the football side of the team, and that is to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl or reach the big game. Instead, the Bills are the only one of those six teams not to have multiple Super Bowl appearances during those winning seasons. Buffalo’s last three losses were all by three points.
Moving on for McDermott wasn’t a one-game or one-season decision. This is the coach who united western New York and became one of its fiercest advocates. He created a culture that many flocked to and loved with several players joining (or returning to) Buffalo to play for McDermott, as evidenced by the shocking and disappointing responses to his firing.
Pegula made it clear in his statement that he believes the organizational structure has been ineffective and that giving one person — Beane — control of the entire football operation is the best move to try to reach a Super Bowl title. — Getzenberg
How does Allen feel about McDermott and how much of a role did the QB play in the decision?
McDermott doesn’t get sacked if quarterback Josh Allen doesn’t have some awareness. Allen’s importance to the structure cannot be understated, and extending his starting time is a big part of making this move. After a very emotional Saturday night for the quarterback, for the first time, Allen didn’t hold a news conference when the team’s locker room was cleaned out Sunday, a sign that something was up.
Although Allen spoke well of McDermott in public, early in his career their relationship was not in the best place, but that has improved over the years. Allen is also very close with Beane and that will be an important relationship moving forward here.
The quarterback’s contribution to the coaching search will also be a big one to watch as he has spoken highly of himself and has strong relationships with many of the names that may be involved, most notably current Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Bills linebacker Davis Webb. — Getzenberg
Is this quickly becoming the best job available? And should John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski regret already taking the jobs?
While the Bills job is very attractive for MVP-related reasons, I’m not convinced it’s clearly better than the other options. The new coach will enter a star-studded Buffalo, as the outgoing coach has made seven consecutive playoff appearances, including the divisional round six straight years. No demolition and rebuilding on the horizon in Buffalo, no one-year grace period. The next coach needs to hit the ground running and win in January immediately.
That said, I think Harbaugh and Stefanski would get a long-term look at the job — Stefanski especially, since he’s never coached an elite quarterback like Allen before, and those two could find offensive success together. I’d bet the Bills career moves faster because of the lure of Allen, but it seems like a bit of a trap to me. — The Solak
Which candidates make sense for Buffalo?
This is a first job that will attract several strong candidates. It’s not a perfect job — the system has a few holes, and the expectations will be high — but the opportunity to coach Allen and get the best out of him will be a tough one. An in-house option, offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and former Giants coach Brian Daboll, a few former Buffalo OCs, could look. Daboll, in particular, has roots in western New York and a long relationship with Allen.
But this is also an opportunity for the Bills to reinvent themselves with a new image and a young coach. Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak are among the intriguing options still on the board.
Three junior and junior offensive line coaches — Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and Broncos passing game coordinator Davis Webb — are also due for interviews. — Fowler
1:59
Rex Ryan wants the Bills to hire Bill Belichick
Dan Orlovsky and Rex Ryan share who they believe will replace Sean McDermott in Buffalo.
Why did the Bills keep GM Brandon Beane, and will he be on the hot seat next year?
With Buffalo showing long-term confidence in Beane, not only did he get more responsibilities but the move reflects Pegula’s confidence in his abilities and his vision for the organization. Beane’s promotion will also be highlighted by the work he is doing if the team goes down again as he has been able to take full control.
This is a change since McDermott previously reported directly to Pegula. Beane, 49, is now in charge of the football side of the club, which is a sign that he will have more time with the new coach to make any changes he sees fit.
The general manager has been heavily criticized for the strength of the weapons surrounding Allen and the fact that many recent day 1 and 2 picks and free agency additions have not lived up to expectations.
Beane, who also reported directly to Pegula, was able to build trust and a relationship with the owner. Pegula clearly believes that Beane is the one who guides the team forward. — Getzenberg
What are Buffalo’s biggest roster decisions of the offseason?
Wide receiver is a big consideration. The position group has big question marks around it with 2024 No. 33 draft pick Keon Coleman falling down the list in his second season, and free agent additions like Joshua Palmer and Curtis Samuel being inactive. Repairing that team will be among Beane’s biggest tasks.
There are also a few positions in the free agency flux, mostly on both lines. Starting center Connor McGovern and left guard David Edwards are set to become free agents, which would be big losses up front. Pass rusher is also an area that needs work as Joey Bosa and AJ Epenesa are free agents, and finding a solid presence at the position has been an issue for this team.
With McDermott’s departure, questions about the overall defense are also important as the unit is built to fit the coach’s scheme. Positions like safety and linebacker are only becoming bigger holes to fill.
The real challenge is rebuilding the roster again under a new coach — who can get the team right back into contention next season with the 30-year-old Allen at quarterback and the Bills’ current cap restrictions. — Getzenberg
Where can McDermott land, and does he move up the list of HC candidates?
McDermott’s presence will make several front offices rethink their plans. Tennessee comes to mind.
Titans finalists Matt Nagy, Robert Saleh and Jeff Hafley. Will they involve McDermott? At least it’s worth considering. You carry credibility quickly. Even if Tennessee and Miami (with Hafley, you see) stay the course with their current search, McDermott has five spots to pursue — the Raiders, Browns, Steelers, Ravens and Cardinals.
Those first two are not naturally equal in this category. Both teams are rebuilding and ready to take a swing by hiring outside the box. McDermott’s coaching style would fit seamlessly into the AFC North. Baltimore, which doesn’t adhere to the relearning model in its search, looks like a better option than Pittsburgh. Arizona falls somewhere in between but it’s definitely not the go-to job at this point.
So, yes, McDermott is now the most decorated candidate, but a lot will depend on the team’s current trajectory and preferences. — Fowler
