The Buffalo Bills announced Monday they have fired head coach Sean McDermott, ending his nine-season tenure after the franchise once again fell short of reaching the Super Bowl.
The decision came two days after the Bills’ season ended with a dramatic 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round, another narrow playoff defeat that underscored the team’s inability to take the final step despite years of regular-season success.
Owner Terry Pegula said in a statement: “Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past 9 seasons, 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. Sean helped change the mindset of this organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team. I respect all the work, loyalty and attention to detail he showed for this team and the community. I wish Sean, Jamie and his family all the best.” As part of that restructuring, Pegula promoted longtime general manager Brandon Beane to president of football operations. Beane, who arrived alongside McDermott in 2017, will oversee the search for Buffalo’s next head coach.
McDermott was hired by Buffalo after six seasons as defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers and earlier served on Andy Reid’s staff with the Philadelphia Eagles. Since being named head coach in 2017, McDermott, 51, leaves with a 98-50 regular-season record and an even 8-8 mark in the playoffs. His win total ranks second in franchise history behind Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy. During McDermott’s tenure, he ended a 17-year playoff drought in his first season. The Bills reached the postseason eight times, captured five AFC East titles (from 2020 to 2024), finishing 12-5 and placing second in the AFC East in the 2025 season.
Despite the sustained success, Buffalo never advanced to the Super Bowl. The Bills reached the AFC championship game twice during a franchise-record seven-year playoff run, losing both times to the Kansas City Chiefs. Their last three postseason exits were decided by three points, with three of McDermott’s playoff losses coming in overtime.
Saturday’s loss to Denver proved especially painful. Quarterback Josh Allen struggled in key moments, throwing two interceptions and losing two fumbles, and was visibly distraught afterward. McDermott publicly defended his quarterback but grew emotional when disputing a pivotal overtime interception that ended Buffalo’s only possession. “I’m standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I’m standing up for us,” McDermott said. “The guys spend three hours out there playing football, pouring their guts out to not even say, ‘Hey, let’s slow this thing down.’ That’s why I’m bothered.”
Buffalo finished the regular season 12-5 but saw its five-year reign atop the AFC East end, finishing behind the New England Patriots. The Bills became the first NFL team to win a playoff game in six consecutive seasons without reaching the Super Bowl.
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