The Buffalo Bills are officially in head coach search mode, and while the decision to part ways with Sean McDermott has sparked mixed reactions, one former player isn’t holding back his thoughts - and he’s making it clear this move was long overdue.
Jerry Hughes, the veteran pass-rusher who spent nearly a decade in Buffalo, took to social media over the weekend to weigh in on McDermott’s dismissal. And let’s just say, he didn’t exactly echo the chorus of praise that’s come from some of his former teammates.
Hughes, who played under McDermott from 2017 to 2021, initially reacted with a simple GIF that read, “Wow… okay, okay.” But the real fireworks came later, when he started engaging directly with fans on X (formerly Twitter). That’s when Hughes opened up about his frustrations with McDermott’s leadership - frustrations that clearly haven’t faded with time.
Asked by a fan why he chose to leave Buffalo after five seasons with McDermott, Hughes pointed directly to one of the most infamous moments in recent Bills history: the “13 seconds” collapse against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2021 AFC Divisional Round.
“Once Sean screwed up the 13 seconds with his calls - ‘prevent defense on every single play’ - I knew he wasn’t serious,” Hughes wrote.
That game, of course, has become a defining moment - and not in a good way - for McDermott’s tenure. Despite Josh Allen delivering a near-flawless performance and giving Buffalo the lead with just 13 seconds left, the Bills defense gave up two quick completions to Patrick Mahomes, setting up the game-tying field goal. Kansas City went on to win in overtime, and the sting of that loss has lingered in Western New York ever since.
For Hughes, the blame falls squarely on the sideline.
“If the coach can manage to lose a football game in 13 seconds after the QB put together phenomenal play after phenomenal play, that coach should be fired,” he added. “Seems like someone was on borrowed time.”
While many current and former Bills players have offered public support for McDermott since his firing, Hughes is the first to come out and say, flat-out, that this was the right move for the franchise. And he didn’t stop there.
When one fan pushed back on Hughes’ stance, saying Bills Mafia didn’t want to see McDermott go, the former defensive end fired back with a message that cuts to the heart of the matter in Buffalo.
“If u want to win a SB (Super Bowl), you should,” he replied.
Hughes left Buffalo in 2021 and spent the next three seasons with the Houston Texans. He didn’t suit up in 2025 and may be retired, though he hasn’t made an official announcement. But if this weekend was any indication, he’s not done talking football - and he’s not afraid to speak his mind.
The Bills now face one of the most pivotal offseasons in franchise history. With a superstar quarterback in Josh Allen and a roster still built to contend, the next head coach will inherit a team that’s been knocking on the door for years. The question now is whether a new voice at the top can finally push them through it.
As for Hughes, he’s already made his position clear: the door needed to be opened - and McDermott wasn’t the one to do it.