The Buffalo Bills were one play away from planning a trip to New England for the AFC Championship Game. Instead, they’re hitting reset on the sidelines.
Sean McDermott, the second-winningest coach in franchise history, is out. And just like that, one of the most desirable jobs in this year’s chaotic coaching carousel is officially open.
With McDermott gone, the focus now shifts squarely to Josh Allen - the 2024 NFL MVP and the centerpiece of Buffalo’s future. League sources, including some inside the Bills organization, say the next head coach will be chosen with Allen in mind.
The system, the scheme, the structure - it all starts with No. 17.
“Are you changing the offensive system when you’ve got a quarterback like that?” said one source. “We know the answer to that.”
Brandon Beane, now serving as both general manager and president of football operations, is leading the search. And while the Bills are expected to cast a wide net, three names have already emerged - all with ties to Allen and the Bills.
Joe Brady, the team’s current offensive coordinator, is a frontrunner. Brady took over play-calling duties midseason and helped stabilize an offense that had been sputtering early in the year.
He’s built a strong relationship with Allen and is in the mix for multiple head coaching jobs, including second interviews with the Ravens and interest from the Cardinals and Raiders. Brady pulled his name out of the running for the Saints job last year, a move the Bills quietly appreciated.
At just 36, he’s seen as a rising star - and someone who already knows how to get the most out of Buffalo’s franchise QB.
Then there’s Brian Daboll, the Western New York native who was Allen’s first offensive coordinator in Buffalo. Daboll helped develop Allen into a top-tier quarterback before heading to New York to coach the Giants.
Now, with things uncertain in New York, he’s exploring options. Daboll has interviewed for offensive coordinator roles with the Chargers and Eagles, and there’s reported interest from new Titans head coach Robert Saleh.
But sources say Daboll is waiting to see what happens in Buffalo before making any decisions. His connection to Allen - and his past success with the Bills - makes him a natural fit if the team wants to rekindle that early chemistry.
The most intriguing - and unconventional - name is Davis Webb, the Broncos quarterbacks coach and Allen’s close friend. Webb, who turns 31 this week, backed up Allen in Buffalo and has only three years of coaching experience.
Hiring a quarterback’s friend to be the head coach is rare, and for some league executives, it raises questions about accountability and team dynamics. Still, Webb is viewed as a sharp football mind and is also a candidate for the Raiders job, where Tom Brady reportedly has influence over the hiring process.
While these three have the strongest ties to Allen, the Bills aren’t limiting themselves. Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is another name generating early buzz in Buffalo. And the team is expected to speak with several other candidates before making a decision.
Whoever lands the job will inherit a team that’s been good - very good - but not quite good enough. McDermott helped raise the standard in Buffalo, but ultimately couldn’t meet the expectations he helped create.
As one source put it: “We won 13 games this year, but the standard now is winning a world championship. That’s the only success that counts.”
It’s a high bar. And the Bills are starting this search later than most.
Four teams - the Giants, Falcons, Titans, and Dolphins - have already filled their head coaching vacancies. That leaves six teams, including Buffalo, still searching.
Some, like the Ravens and Raiders, have conducted more than a dozen interviews already.
The timing adds another wrinkle for the Bills. NFL rules prohibit teams from interviewing coaches still in the playoffs unless their teams lose this weekend.
Coaches on Super Bowl-bound teams can’t be interviewed until after the big game on February 8. That means potential candidates like Webb (Broncos), Kubiak (Seahawks), and Thomas Brown (Patriots) may not be available for interviews for at least another three weeks.
This is Beane’s first head coaching search since arriving in Buffalo. McDermott was already in place when Beane joined the team in 2017.
While Beane was involved in the Panthers’ hiring of Ron Rivera back in 2011, this is the first time he’ll be making the final call. And he’s doing it with full authority.
Bills owner Terry Pegula has restructured the chain of command, giving Beane complete control of football operations. The new setup: head coach reports to the GM, GM reports to the owner.
By handing Beane the keys and parting ways with McDermott, Pegula is sending a message - he believes this roster is built to win now. Sources say McDermott sensed the pressure late in the season, especially after a controversial no-catch ruling involving Brandin Cooks. McDermott’s emotional postgame comments and his follow-up call to a local reporter from the team plane were seen by some as a coach who knew his job was on the line.
“That was the result of him knowing his head was on the chopping block,” said one former Bills coach.
Inside the building, there’s still frustration over that call. Many believe it should’ve been ruled a catch. But Pegula wasn’t swayed - and now the Bills are preparing for their first head coaching search in nearly a decade.
It’s a pivotal moment for the franchise. They’ve got the quarterback.
They’ve got the talent. Now, they need the right coach to bring it all together.
And with Josh Allen at the center of the conversation, this hire could define the next chapter in Buffalo.