Sean McDermott Is on the Market - and the Titans Should Be Paying Attention
The NFL coaching carousel took a major turn early Monday morning when the Buffalo Bills parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott, according to Tom Pelissero. And just like that, one of the most respected defensive minds in the league is suddenly available. For a team like the Tennessee Titans, who are in the thick of their own coaching search, this changes the equation - or at least, it should.
Let’s be clear: McDermott’s exit from Buffalo doesn’t erase what he accomplished there. When he took over in 2017, the Bills were a franchise stuck in neutral, with no clear direction and a playoff drought that stretched back to the late '90s.
Under McDermott, Buffalo became one of the most consistent teams in the AFC, missing the postseason just once during his tenure and capturing five straight AFC East titles. That’s not just stability - that’s sustained success in a division that, for years, was ruled by the Patriots.
But for all the wins, the playoff ceiling remained frustratingly low. The Bills made two trips to the AFC Championship Game under McDermott, but each time, they ran into the buzzsaw that is Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
This year’s postseason offered a rare opportunity - a playoff path that didn’t include Mahomes - and yet, Buffalo still fell short. That was enough for the front office to hit the reset button.
Now, McDermott becomes one of the most intriguing names on the coaching market. And for the Titans, that should be a signal to pause and reassess.
Tennessee has already zeroed in on three finalists: Robert Saleh, Jeff Hafley, and Matt Nagy. Each brings something different to the table - Saleh with his defensive pedigree, Hafley as a rising mind from the college ranks, and Nagy with head coaching experience and an offensive background. But none of them come with McDermott’s combination of experience, leadership, and proven ability to build a winning culture.
If the Titans are serious about turning the page and building something sustainable, McDermott deserves a long look.
He’s not a perfect coach - playoff struggles are part of his story - but what he does bring is a blueprint for stability. He knows how to build a locker room, develop talent, and get a team playing disciplined, physical football. That’s the kind of foundation Tennessee needs as it enters a new era.
And here’s the kicker: the Titans already have a potential franchise quarterback in Cam Ward. That’s a luxury McDermott didn’t have when he started in Buffalo. With Ward in place, McDermott could focus on doing what he does best - building a tough, opportunistic defense - while handing the keys to the offense to a coordinator who can develop Ward’s skill set.
That setup could be appealing to McDermott, especially with other teams likely to come calling. Tennessee has a chance to pitch him on a clear vision: a young quarterback, a clean slate, and the opportunity to lead a rebuild with full support from ownership.
The Titans have done their homework on their current finalists, and there’s merit in each of those options. But when a coach with McDermott’s résumé suddenly becomes available, you have to pivot. Or at the very least, pick up the phone.
Because if Tennessee wants to reestablish itself as a contender in the AFC South - a division that’s getting more competitive by the year - it needs more than just a fresh face. It needs a proven leader. And McDermott might just be the best one on the board.