At a Glance
- Sean McDermott was fired Monday after nine seasons as Buffalo Bills head coach
- The team promoted GM Brandon Beane to president of football operations/general manager
- McDermott went 98-50 with eight playoff berths but never reached a Super Bowl
- Why it matters: The move makes the Bills the 10th team hunting for a new head coach with Josh Allen entering his age-30 season
The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott on Monday, ending a nine-year tenure that delivered consistent playoff appearances but no Super Bowl breakthroughs.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the decision, and the team confirmed it shortly afterward. Owner Terry Pegula said the organization needs “a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level.”
McDermott, 51, leaves with a 98-50 regular-season record and eight postseason trips. He snapped the franchise’s 18-year playoff drought in his first season of 2017 and captured five AFC East titles from 2020 through 2024.
Playoff Shortfalls Mount
Every January under McDermott ended in disappointment:
- Four losses to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, including one in overtime and three by one possession
- A flat home defeat to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023
- Sunday’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, sealing McDermott’s fate
The Bills never advanced past the AFC Championship Game during his tenure. The repeated near-misses convinced Pegula that change was essential.
“We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia,” Pegula said in the team statement.
Front-Office Shake-Up
Alongside the coaching move, the Bills promoted general manager Brandon Beane to president of football operations/general manager. In his expanded role, Beane will oversee “all facets of our football operation, including the oversight of our coaching staff,” according to Pegula.
The restructuring centralizes football decisions under Beane as the franchise searches for McDermott’s replacement.
Roster Reality Check
Quarterback Josh Allen will turn 30 in May, intensifying the urgency to build a championship roster around the former league MVP. By season’s end, Allen’s top targets included veteran castoffs:
- Brandin Cooks
- Mecole Hardman
- Curtis Samuel
The lack of elite playmakers beyond Allen underscored the roster deficiencies that a new coach must address.
Coaching Carousel Update
Buffalo becomes the 10th team seeking a new head coach for 2026. Two franchises have already filled their vacancies:
| Team | New Head Coach |
|---|---|
| New York Giants | John Harbaugh |
| Atlanta Falcons | Kevin Stefanski |
Eight openings remain, and the Bills’ job is expected to rank at the top of candidate wish lists thanks to Allen’s presence and the team’s recent success.
McDermott’s Legacy
McDermott transformed the Bills from a forgotten franchise into a perennial AFC contender. His arrival in 2017 ended nearly two decades of postseason absence, and Buffalo became a January regular under his watch.
Yet the inability to clear the final hurdle-defeating Mahomes or reaching a Super Bowl-ultimately cost him. The Bills will now pivot to a new voice while keeping their star quarterback in place.
Key Takeaways
- McDermott departs as the franchise’s most successful coach since Marv Levy
- The Bills’ next coach inherits a playoff-ready roster headlined by Josh Allen
- Buffalo must move quickly; rival teams have weeks-long head starts on interviews
