Bills Hit Reset Button: Pegula Explains McDermott Firing, Eyes Future with Beane at the Helm
After another season that ended short of expectations, the Buffalo Bills are heading into the offseason with a major shakeup at the top. Team owner Terry Pegula confirmed that the decision to part ways with head coach Sean McDermott wasn’t about a single moment, but rather a culmination of frustrations that have built up over multiple playoff runs.
“This wasn’t about a bad call or a missed whistle,” Pegula said when addressing the media. “It felt like we hit the proverbial playoff wall year after year - 13 seconds, a missed field goal, the catch.
I just looked at that locker room and thought, ‘Where do we go from here with what we have?’ That’s what drove the decision.”
McDermott, who helped guide the Bills to consistent playoff appearances and reestablish the franchise as a contender, ultimately couldn’t get the team over the hump. For Pegula, the emotional and mental toll of repeated near-misses became too familiar a storyline.
But while McDermott is out, GM Brandon Beane is staying put - and Pegula made it clear why.
“You don’t make the playoffs seven straight years in this league without having talent and a strong organization,” Pegula said. “There are teams that have a great year, then fall off the next.
That hasn’t been us. We’ve had guys from the practice squad stepping up in big moments because of the depth Brandon and his staff have built.
That doesn’t happen by accident.”
Beane’s ability to construct a resilient roster - even in the face of a brutal injury list this season - has earned him continued trust from ownership. The Bills’ front office has consistently found ways to stay competitive, even as the AFC has grown increasingly loaded with talent.
Still, the challenges ahead are significant. The Bills are currently projected to be more than $11 million over the salary cap, and tough decisions are looming.
One of those could involve fullback Reggie Gilliam. According to reports, Gilliam may be a cap casualty as the team tries to rework its roster. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent, and in a year where every dollar counts, Buffalo may have to move on.
There’s also intrigue surrounding the team’s next head coach. According to The Athletic, quarterback Josh Allen shares an agent with a pair of potential coaching candidates: former Colts QB Philip Rivers and current Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb. Both names have surfaced in connection with the Bills’ vacancy, and while no decisions have been made, the shared representation adds an interesting wrinkle to the search.
Dolphins Begin New Era Under Hafley
Down in Miami, the Dolphins are also undergoing a transformation. New head coach Jeff Hafley has his work cut out for him as he builds out a staff and redefines the team’s identity.
On the defensive side, Hafley could look to bring in some familiar faces. Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan and defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington have both been floated as potential coordinator hires. Duggan, notably, followed Hafley from Boston College to Green Bay, and that connection could carry over to Miami.
Meanwhile, Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan offered some clarity on the surprising decision to move on from Mike McDaniel, calling it an “ownership decision” that was made before his second interview. The change at the top signals a new direction for the franchise - one that Hafley now has the opportunity to shape from Day 1.
As both the Bills and Dolphins navigate pivotal offseasons, the AFC East is once again in flux. With coaching changes, cap challenges, and roster overhauls on the horizon, the next few months will be crucial in determining which of these franchises can take the next step - and which might be left chasing.