Sean McDermott might be stepping away from the sidelines for a bit, but don’t mistake that for retirement. After being let go by the Buffalo Bills, McDermott reportedly told his staff he plans to coach again. Just not right now.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, it’s “likely” that McDermott takes a year off in 2026. And based on how the coaching carousel has spun this offseason, that tracks.
There hasn’t been a rush of teams knocking down his door. The Dolphins and Titans, two franchises deep in their own hiring processes, didn’t hit pause to consider McDermott.
And there was no Jim Harbaugh-style frenzy to grab him off the market.
Still, it’s worth remembering what McDermott accomplished in Buffalo. Over nine seasons, he led the Bills to the playoffs eight times - including seven straight appearances.
That’s not just consistency; that’s a culture shift for a franchise that had been stuck in the wilderness for nearly two decades. His first postseason berth came in 2017, ending an 18-year playoff drought.
And he did it with Tyrod Taylor under center - not exactly the high-octane quarterback play we associate with Buffalo today.
Of course, having Josh Allen has helped fuel the Bills’ recent success. But McDermott’s defensive identity and leadership were foundational to the team’s resurgence. Even if Bills owner Terry Pegula ultimately decided coaching - not talent - was the reason the team kept hitting a “proverbial playoff wall,” it’s hard to ignore how far the organization came under McDermott’s watch.
And let’s be honest: plenty of teams currently searching for head coaches would love to have Buffalo’s “problem.” The Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, Titans, and Dolphins - all are franchises that have struggled to find consistent playoff footing, let alone make a Super Bowl run. McDermott, for all the criticism about not getting over the hump, brought stability and postseason relevance to a team that hadn’t seen either in years.
But McDermott seems to be playing the long game here. Rather than jump at the first opening - many of which exist because the teams are in rough shape - he appears content to wait for the right opportunity.
And that’s a smart move. Taking over a franchise without a quarterback, a vision, or a front office on the same page can derail even the most seasoned coaches.
So, while McDermott might be out of the league in 2026, don’t expect him to stay away for long. He’s still a proven winner with a playoff pedigree, and in a league where coaching turnover is constant, his phone will ring again - probably sooner than later.