The Buffalo Bills’ season came to a crushing end with a 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round-a game that left fans gutted and the locker room in stunned silence. But what followed was even more seismic: team owner Terry Pegula made the call to part ways with head coach Sean McDermott.
And standing right beside him during the decision? General manager Brandon Beane.
This wasn’t just a coaching change. It was a reshuffling of the Bills’ internal power structure.
Pegula, who had been more hands-on in recent years, is stepping back from the day-to-day football operations. Beane, meanwhile, is stepping forward-tasked with leading the search for a new head coach and steering the franchise into its next chapter.
Why McDermott Was Let Go-and Beane Wasn’t
For years, McDermott and Beane were seen as a package deal. Their shared history in Carolina and early success in Buffalo made it easy to assume they’d rise and fall together.
But when the axe finally came down, it landed squarely on McDermott-and not Beane. That wasn’t by accident.
One of the key issues, according to those close to the situation, was a growing disconnect between McDermott and the front office. While Pegula and Beane often watched games together from the booth, McDermott operated from the sidelines with a different lens.
The alignment that once existed between coach and GM seemed to fray over time. McDermott, despite being given ample talent, struggled to mold that into postseason success.
The message was clear: Beane still had the trust of ownership. McDermott no longer did.
The “Tush Push” Divide
Another wedge in the relationship? Philosophy.
Particularly around one of the most debated plays in football today-the “Tush Push.” Popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles, the quarterback sneak variation became a go-to for short-yardage dominance.
The Bills, with their powerful offensive line and a tank of a quarterback in Josh Allen, had every reason to embrace it.
And they did-at least on the field. In their Wild Card win, Buffalo went 4-for-4 on Tush Push attempts.
But off the field, McDermott was reportedly not a fan of the play, citing concerns about injuries. That stance raised eyebrows, especially since there’s been no substantial data linking the play to increased injury risk.
In 2024, when the Packers proposed a rule to ban the play, the Bills were among the 22 teams that supported the motion. It ultimately didn’t pass, but McDermott’s stance stood in stark contrast to how effectively the Bills executed the play. It was a philosophical inconsistency that didn’t go unnoticed internally.
Meanwhile, teams like the Jaguars-who also voted to ban it-struggled to stop the play and failed to run it effectively themselves. But at least they were consistent.
The Bills? They voted against it, ran it to perfection, and still had a coach who wanted it gone.
That kind of disconnect doesn’t build trust in a locker room or a front office.
Defensive Identity That Never Delivered
McDermott came to Buffalo with a reputation as a defensive mind. And for a while, it looked like that side of the ball would be the team’s calling card. The front office poured resources into the defense-draft picks, free agents, scheme continuity-but come playoff time, the unit repeatedly fell short.
The most glaring example? The infamous “13 seconds” game against Kansas City in the 2021 Divisional Round.
Up three points with 13 seconds to go, the Bills opted for a soft coverage look and rushed only three. The Chiefs moved into field goal range in two plays and eventually won in overtime.
Cameras caught a heated exchange between Beane and McDermott after the game, reportedly centered on that defensive call.
That moment lingered. It was a turning point. And while the team didn’t make a coaching change then, the seeds of doubt were planted.
Offensive Uncertainty After Diggs
The offense had its own identity crisis after the team traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in 2024. Diggs, for all his talent, had become a polarizing figure-wanting the ball, demanding attention, and creating tension. His departure left a void, and the Bills opted not to chase a traditional WR1.
Instead, they leaned into a “receiver-by-committee” approach, selling the idea that “Everybody Eats.” It sounded good on paper, but in crunch time, that lack of a true alpha target made life harder for Josh Allen.
Beane had opportunities to make a splash. He could’ve gone after Jakobi Meyers.
He could’ve mortgaged a 2027 first-rounder for Jaylen Waddle. But he didn’t.
And that restraint may have helped save his job. Waddle is electric, no doubt, but he’s more of a slot weapon than a true No. 1 in the mold of A.J.
Brown or Diggs. Giving up a future first for a receiver who doesn’t fit that prototype?
That’s a move that can come back to haunt a GM. Beane chose patience-and Pegula respected that.
What Comes Next
The Bills are now at a crossroads. McDermott helped restore credibility to a franchise that had been floundering for years.
He brought playoff appearances, division titles, and a winning culture. But he couldn’t get them over the hump.
And in a league that’s as cutthroat as it is copycat, that matters.
Beane now has the keys to the car. The next head coach will be his hire.
And with Josh Allen still in his prime, the window for a Super Bowl run is very much open-but not forever. The next move has to be the right one.
Buffalo has the talent. It has the quarterback.
What it needs now is alignment-from the front office to the coaching staff to the locker room. That’s how championships are built.
And after years of knocking on the door, the Bills are betting that a new voice on the sideline might finally be the one to kick it down.