Bills Mafia is formally down one head coach.
The Bills fired Sean McDermott on Monday after 9 seasons, the remaining of which ended Saturday with an time beyond regulation divisional spherical playoff loss to the Broncos in Denver.
McDermott finishes his time in Buffalo with a regular-season report of 98-50 and a postseason mark of 8-8.
Of course, Saturday’s crushing 33-30 loss to the Broncos in additional minutes wasn’t with out controversy.
Sean McDermott on the sidelines during the Bills’ playoff loss to the Broncos on Jan. 17, 2026. AP
When quarterback Josh Allen tossed a cross to huge receiver Brandin Cooks on the Bills’ first time beyond regulation possession, the ball was ripped away by Denver cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian. The play was dominated an interception, although it was speculated Cooks was already down.
“It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,” McDermott said, per NFL.com. “In my eyes, it was [a catch by Cooks], yes. In my eyes, it was. But even if it wasn’t, OK. Let’s just say that, and I’m being objective. Even if it wasn’t, the players are owed, to me, ‘Hey, let’s stop it. Let’s slow it down.’ Let’s put the head referee and give him a chance to look at the monitor just to make sure. Just to make sure.”
McDermott, 51, was employed by the Bills in 2017 after six seasons as the Panthers defensive coordinator.
Josh McDaniel was drafted by the Bills in 2018 — a 12 months after Sean McDermott was employed as head coach. Getty Images
A 12 months after McDermott’s hiring, the Bills made the franchise-altering choice to choose eventual league MVP Allen with the seventh general choose in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Allen, 29, and McDermott reached the playoffs in seven of their eight seasons collectively.
The closest the duo came to a Super Bowl berth was in the 2020 and 2024 seasons, when they fell to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship video games.
Long regarded as the AFC East powerhouse, the Bills saw a sudden shift in dynamics this season, due in half to a resurgent Patriots squad under first-year coach Mike Vrabel.
Sean McDermott talks the the media after the Bills’ playoff loss. AP
New England (14-3) went on to claim its first AFC East title since 2019, while the Bills, winners of division 5 straight years, completed second in the division at 12-5.
The transfer to break up from McDermott comes days after longtime Steelers coach Mike Tomlin resigned and the Ravens fired their 18-year coach, John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh has since been named the next head coach of the Giants.
The Bills are now one of eight present vacancies, becoming a member of the Ravens, Steelers, Dolphins, Browns, Titans, Cardinals and Raiders.
The Falcons employed ex-Browns coach Kevin Stefanski to lead the franchise on Saturday after firing Raheem Morris.
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