The Buffalo Bills are no strangers to high-stakes drama, but Wednesday morning's press conference with team owner Terry Pegula turned a coaching change into a full-blown organizational spectacle. Pegula didn’t just announce the firing of head coach Sean McDermott - he opened the floodgates with a series of eyebrow-raising comments that have left fans, players, and analysts alike trying to make sense of it all.
Let’s start with the headline: Pegula publicly placed blame on McDermott and his coaching staff for the selection of wide receiver Keon Coleman with the 33rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That’s a rare move in NFL circles - not just because it shifts responsibility away from the front office, but because Coleman is still on the roster, midway through a four-year, $10 million deal.
Pegula interrupted a question directed at newly promoted President of Football Operations Brandon Beane to clarify the narrative around the Coleman pick.
“The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon,” Pegula said. “I’m not saying Brandon wouldn’t have drafted him, but he wasn’t his next choice. That was Brandon being a team player and taking the advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player.”
It’s a stunning level of candor - and one that seems to contradict the usual unified front NFL teams present during turbulent times. Pegula’s remarks seemed to deflect criticism from Beane, who’s faced heat over the team’s underwhelming wide receiver production, and pin it squarely on McDermott’s staff.
The timing of this revelation is even more curious given that Joe Brady, the offensive coordinator under McDermott and presumably part of the group that advocated for drafting Coleman, is now being interviewed for the head coaching job.
Beane later addressed the situation himself, offering a more measured take. “I made the pick,” he said.
“Terry’s point was that we might have had a different order of personnel versus coaching, and I went that way. But ultimately, I’m not turning a pick for a player that I don’t think we can succeed with.”
Beane also defended Coleman, emphasizing that the young receiver’s challenges have been about maturity, not talent. “His issues have not been on the field,” Beane said.
“They’ve just been maturity things that he owns. I give him credit.
He doesn’t make excuses, which I appreciate.”
Coleman’s rookie campaign wasn’t spectacular, but it wasn’t a disaster either - 38 catches, 404 yards, and four touchdowns across 13 games. For a second-round pick in a complex Bills offense, those numbers suggest promise, not failure. But Pegula’s public comments - especially the implication that Coleman was a mistake - have drawn heavy criticism, both from around the league and within the fanbase.
Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel summed up the sentiment on social media: “The fact that Bills owner Terry Pegula is not only throwing massive shade at Sean McDermott but also at a player still on your roster is WILD.”
Fans echoed that frustration, calling the comments “brutal” and “nasty work,” with many pointing out how damaging it could be to a young player’s confidence. And they’re not wrong - regardless of what’s happening behind closed doors, publicly airing internal disagreements about draft picks is a risky move, especially when the player in question is still developing.
Pegula also confirmed that McDermott’s firing was triggered by the Bills’ 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos last weekend - not by McDermott’s overall track record, which includes multiple playoff appearances and a consistent presence atop the AFC East.
“I know we can do better and I know we will get better,” Pegula said. “My decision to bring in a new coach was based on the results of our game in Denver.
If I can take you into that locker room, I felt we hit the proverbial playoff wall year after year. I just sensed, in that locker room, where do we go from here with what we have?”
That’s a bold move, especially when you consider how close the Bills have been to breaking through in recent seasons. Still, Pegula made it clear that the team is moving forward - and fast. He also revealed that quarterback Josh Allen, who left the Denver game visibly emotional, may need offseason foot surgery but is expected to be ready for OTAs.
As for the coaching search, Pegula confirmed that Allen will be involved in the process, though he wasn’t consulted before McDermott was let go. “We are focused on bringing a Super Bowl to Buffalo,” Pegula said.
“We have an MVP quarterback. I am looking forward to having a successful coaching search.
I know this is a desirable job. Our phones are ringing.”
The list of candidates is already taking shape. Brian Daboll - the former Bills offensive coordinator who was recently fired by the New York Giants - is scheduled to interview this weekend.
Joe Brady, despite being part of the staff Pegula criticized, is also in the mix. Other names reportedly include Anthony Lynn, Anthony Weaver, Grant Udinski, and Lou Anarumo.
The fallout from McDermott’s firing has already rippled through the locker room. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips publicly criticized the move on social media, adding to the sense that this is a team in transition - and perhaps in turmoil.
What’s clear is that the Bills are at a crossroads. They have a franchise quarterback in his prime, a front office undergoing restructuring, and a fanbase hungry for a Super Bowl. But Pegula’s press conference, intended to chart a path forward, may have raised more questions than it answered - especially about how the organization handles internal accountability.
For now, all eyes are on the coaching search - and on Keon Coleman, who suddenly finds himself at the center of a very public storm.