The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott following another postseason collapse, ending his nine-year tenure with the franchise.
At a Glance
- Sean McDermott was fired Monday after nine seasons as Bills head coach
- McDermott posted a 98-50 regular-season record and made eight playoff appearances
- Buffalo never reached a Super Bowl under his leadership, losing four times to Kansas City
- General manager Brandon Beane promoted to president of football operations/general manager
Why it matters: The Bills are resetting their leadership as star quarterback Josh Allen approaches age 30, hoping a new structure can finally push the team over the championship hump.
McDermott’s dismissal comes after the Bills’ 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the wild-card round, the latest in a string of devastating playoff exits. The team confirmed the move Monday, which had been reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past 9 seasons,” owner Terry Pegula said in a statement. “But I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia.”
Coaching Record Filled With Near-Misses
During McDermott’s nine seasons in Buffalo, the 51-year-old coach compiled an impressive 98-50 regular-season record while leading the team to eight postseason appearances. However, the Bills consistently fell short when it mattered most.
The team’s playoff failures became a painful pattern:
- Four losses to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs
- One overtime defeat to the Chiefs
- Three losses by a single possession to Kansas City
- A lifeless home loss to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023
- Sunday’s overtime heartbreak in Denver
The Bills’ playoff misery extended beyond individual games. Despite their regular-season success, they never advanced to a Super Bowl under McDermott’s leadership, leaving the franchise and its fans searching for answers.
Franchise Transformation Before Ultimate Disappointment
McDermott’s impact on the Bills organization was significant, transforming the team from NFL afterthought to perennial contender. His first season in 2017 snapped the franchise’s 18-year playoff drought, marking a dramatic turnaround for a long-suffering organization.
Under his guidance, Buffalo became a fixture in January football. The team captured five AFC East division titles from 2020 to 2024, establishing itself as the class of the division before the New England Patriots snapped that streak in 2025.
The regular-season success made the playoff failures even more frustrating. With former league MVP Josh Allen entrenched as the franchise quarterback, expectations remained sky-high. However, the supporting cast around Allen became increasingly problematic.
By season’s end, Allen’s top receiving targets included veteran castoffs Brandin Cooks, Mecole Hardman, and Curtis Samuel – hardly the weapons typically associated with championship-caliber offenses.
Front Office Restructuring Underway
While McDermott takes the fall for the team’s playoff shortcomings, the Bills are not completely cleaning house. General manager Brandon Beane has been promoted to president of football operations/general manager, where he will oversee “all facets of our football operation, including the oversight of our coaching staff,” according to Pegula.
This structure suggests the organization believes its roster-building approach under Beane has been sound, placing the blame for the team’s inability to reach a Super Bowl squarely on coaching.
The timing of the move is notable as Allen approaches a milestone birthday. The star quarterback will turn 30 in May, putting pressure on the organization to maximize his remaining prime years.
Coaching Carousel Implications
With McDermott’s firing, the Bills become the 10th team needing a new head coach for the 2026 season. The coaching market has already begun moving, with the New York Giants hiring John Harbaugh and the Atlanta Falcons landing Kevin Stefanski.
Eight teams, including Buffalo, still have head coaching vacancies. However, the Bills’ opening immediately becomes the most attractive position available.
The combination of Allen’s long-term presence and the team’s recent success makes Buffalo’s head coaching job the premier opening on the market. Candidates will see an opportunity to take over a ready-made contender rather than undertaking a lengthy rebuild.
Search Process Ahead
Buffalo faces the challenge of playing catch-up in the interview process. With other teams having already begun their searches, the Bills must move quickly to identify and interview candidates.
The organization’s next head coach will inherit a talented roster led by a franchise quarterback, but also the burden of ending the team’s championship drought. The pressure to deliver immediate results will be immense.
Key Takeaways
- Sean McDermott’s nine-year tenure ends with impressive regular-season numbers but zero conference championships
- The Bills’ playoff failures, particularly against Kansas City, ultimately sealed his fate
- Brandon Beane’s promotion suggests the organization believes its roster construction has been adequate
- Buffalo’s head coaching opening becomes the most attractive on the market
- The next coach must capitalize on Josh Allen’s prime years while ending the franchise’s Super Bowl drought
