When the Buffalo Bills parted ways with Sean McDermott after nine seasons, it sent shockwaves through the league. A playoff exit in the divisional round proved to be the final chapter in McDermott’s tenure, and not even a locker room full of emotion-including a visibly shaken Josh Allen-could change that.
Naturally, when a coach of his caliber hits the market, teams take notice. For the Miami Dolphins and newly appointed GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, the idea of bringing in McDermott was certainly floated-and for a moment, it may have even felt like the logical move.
But as more details emerge from Buffalo’s awkward and revealing post-firing press conference, it’s becoming clear that Miami might’ve dodged a bullet.
A Crumbling Exit in Buffalo
Bills owner Terry Pegula opened the press conference with the expected gratitude for McDermott’s contributions. But as the questions rolled in, the tone shifted.
Pegula described the raw postgame scene-Allen in tears, players emotionally spent-and then pivoted to what went wrong. He pointed to in-game mistakes and, in a surprising twist, began to distance GM Brandon Beane from some of the team’s more scrutinized decisions.
The most telling moment came when the conversation turned to rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman. The Bills had passed on other highly regarded prospects like Xavier Worthy and Ladd McConkey to take Coleman, who hasn’t lived up to his draft billing so far. When Beane was asked about the decision, Pegula jumped in to clarify that the pick wasn’t his call.
“I will address the Keon Coleman situation,” Pegula said. “The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon. I wouldn’t say that Brandon wouldn’t have drafted him, but he wasn’t his next choice.”
That’s not a small statement. Pegula essentially absolved Beane and pinned the selection on McDermott and his staff.
He even described Beane as a “team player” who went along with the coaching staff’s recommendation. It was a rare moment of transparency-and dysfunction-that pulled back the curtain on how decisions were being made in Buffalo.
What This Means for Miami
Now, imagine that dynamic transplanted into Miami’s front office. If McDermott had landed in South Florida, would he have expected the same level of influence over personnel decisions? Would he have clashed with Sullivan, a first-time GM trying to establish his own vision?
Sullivan has made it clear from day one: culture matters. And not just the kind of culture that gets talked about in locker room speeches.
He’s talking about a top-down, organization-wide philosophy-one that starts with the front office and filters through every level of the team. It’s about building a roster with players who fit a specific mold, both in terms of skill and mindset.
That’s where Jeff Hafley comes in. The new Dolphins head coach shares that philosophical alignment with Sullivan.
They’re already on the same page when it comes to roster construction and player evaluation. That kind of synergy matters, especially for a team trying to reset its identity.
Critics have called the Hafley hire a favor to a friend. But let’s not forget: Hafley wasn’t just sitting by the phone waiting for Miami to call.
He had multiple interviews lined up with other teams. This wasn’t a one-horse race.
And unlike Mike McDaniel’s hiring process, which was more Dolphins-centric, Hafley was genuinely in demand.
A Different Kind of Partnership
There’s a real benefit to Sullivan hiring someone who shares his vision. It creates alignment from the jump. And while Hafley will need to prove he can translate that vision into wins, he’s stepping into a situation where expectations and communication are already in sync.
That wasn’t always the case in Miami. Under Chris Grier, the Dolphins sometimes bent their front office decisions to accommodate the head coach’s preferences.
It’s a fine line-collaboration is key, but when the GM consistently defers to the coach, it can lead to lopsided decisions. We’ve seen how that can backfire.
Sullivan has said he’ll listen to everyone in the building, but he also knows he can’t afford to repeat those mistakes. The GM has to steer the ship, not just keep it afloat.
The Road Ahead
With McDermott out of the picture and Hafley installed, the Dolphins are charting a new course-one built on cohesion, not compromise. And while McDermott’s track record as a head coach is nothing to scoff at, the behind-the-scenes drama in Buffalo raises fair questions about how much control he expected and how that might’ve clashed with a first-time GM like Sullivan.
In the end, Miami might’ve passed on a big name, but they may have gained something even more valuable: clarity.