After nearly a decade at the helm in Buffalo, Sean McDermott’s run as head coach of the Bills has come to an emotional end. The announcement came just days after the team’s heartbreaking overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round-a game that felt like a missed opportunity in a season full of promise.
McDermott addressed Bills fans in a heartfelt statement on Monday night, reflecting on his nine-year journey that helped reshape the franchise into a consistent postseason threat. While the ultimate goal-a Super Bowl appearance-remained elusive, there’s no denying the transformation that took place under his leadership.
“For nearly a decade I have had the opportunity to wake up every morning as the Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills, which has truly been a gift,” McDermott said. His message was full of gratitude-for the Pegula family, the organization, the players and staff, and most of all, the fans. “Bills Mafia, you are one of one,” he added, calling their passion and toughness the blueprint for how he wanted his teams to play.
And that toughness was a hallmark of McDermott’s Bills. From breaking a 17-year playoff drought in his first season to building a team that made the postseason in six of his seven full years, McDermott helped bring pride and relevance back to Western New York.
He and general manager Brandon Beane, who joined the organization five months after McDermott’s hiring, formed one of the league’s most respected coach-GM duos. Together, they built a contender around quarterback Josh Allen, who blossomed into one of the NFL’s elite under their watch.
But in the end, the postseason ceiling remained stubbornly in place. Despite Allen’s brilliance-setting franchise records and earning league MVP honors last season-the Bills never made it past the AFC Championship Game, falling short in both 2020 and 2024 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
This year, with Kansas City out of the picture and the top-seeded Broncos as the final hurdle, the door seemed wide open. But the loss in Denver proved to be the final chapter of McDermott’s tenure.
Now, the Bills are pivoting. Owner Terry Pegula has introduced a new leadership structure aimed at finally getting Buffalo over the hump. Beane has been promoted to president of football operations and will now oversee the search for the team’s next head coach-his first since arriving in Buffalo.
Early signs suggest the Bills may lean toward an offensive-minded hire, someone who can lighten Allen’s load and bring more balance to an offense that has too often relied on the quarterback’s heroics. Despite a 12-5 regular season, Buffalo’s five-year reign atop the AFC East came to an end, finishing second behind the New England Patriots.
McDermott’s departure marks a significant shift not just for the Bills, but in the broader NFL landscape. He becomes the 10th head coach to be let go this offseason, joining a list that includes some of the league’s most accomplished names. It’s a reminder of how quickly the ground can shift in this league, even for those who’ve built a winning culture.
Still, McDermott leaves behind a legacy of toughness, professionalism, and a team that was always in the fight. He helped restore pride in Buffalo football, and while the Super Bowl dream was never realized, he brought the Bills closer than they’d been in decades.
As the Bills turn the page, the next chapter begins with high expectations and a familiar mission: get back to the playoffs-and this time, go further.