Buffalo Bills Fire McDermott And Launch Open Coaching Search

The Buffalo Bills, a franchise long haunted by postseason heartbreak, have once again found themselves at a crossroads. On January 21, 2026, team owner Terry Pegula and President of Football Operations and General Manager Brandon Beane faced a packed media room at One Bills Drive, addressing the stunning decision to fire head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons. The move, coming less than 48 hours after a gut-wrenching overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round, has sent shockwaves through Buffalo and the wider NFL community.

McDermott’s tenure in Buffalo was nothing short of transformative. He took over a franchise that had been mired in mediocrity and, with the help of Beane, guided the Bills to eight playoff appearances and 98 wins across nine seasons. Averaging nearly 11 wins per year, McDermott restored pride and hope to a fan base desperate for success. Yet, for all the regular-season glory, the Bills consistently stumbled at the postseason’s most critical moments. With star quarterback Josh Allen at the helm, the team never advanced to the Super Bowl, repeatedly falling short in the divisional round. The sense of a ‘playoff wall’ became a recurring theme—one Pegula was not willing to accept any longer.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Pegula was candid about the rationale behind the move. “I felt like we hit the proverbial playoff wall,” he told reporters, referencing the team’s inability to take the final step. He made it clear that while McDermott had achieved great things, he was not the right person to help the Bills break through their postseason ceiling. “The goal is to bring a Super Bowl to Buffalo,” Pegula stated, underscoring the urgency and ambition now driving the franchise’s next chapter.

The decision to retain and even promote Brandon Beane, however, raised eyebrows. Many fans and pundits had expected a full house-cleaning after another bitter playoff exit. Instead, Beane was elevated to President of Football Operations while keeping his GM duties. Pegula offered a vote of confidence: “I have full faith in and have witnessed Brandon’s outstanding leadership style and have confidence in his abilities to lead our organization.”

Beane, for his part, didn’t shy away from tough questions. He addressed the team’s roster construction and his regrets over recent seasons, particularly the pressure placed on the wide receiver room after the financial commitment to Josh Allen. “Before we paid Josh Allen, we had a better wide receiver room. You have to make sacrifices, and the number one priority is protecting Allen with a good offensive line,” Beane admitted. He also lamented, “I wish we were preparing for the AFC Championship game rather than having this press conference.”

One of the most hotly debated topics was the fate of wide receiver Keon Coleman. Drafted out of Florida State, Coleman has struggled to meet expectations in Buffalo, tallying just 67 catches for 960 yards and eight touchdowns over two seasons. His postseason performance—two catches for 46 yards and a touchdown—did little to silence critics. Pegula was surprisingly forthright about the origins of the pick, stating, “The coaching staff pushed to draft Coleman. That was Brandon Beane being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player. He’s taken the heat over it, and not saying a word about it. I’m here to tell you the true story.”

Beane, meanwhile, maintained his belief in Coleman’s potential, emphasizing that the receiver’s issues were about maturity rather than on-field performance. “I still believe in Keon Coleman. None of his issues have been on the field; rather, they have been maturity issues,” Beane said. Still, Pegula’s comments have led to speculation about Coleman’s future with the team, despite his contract running through 2027. Many fans and analysts now wonder if a change of scenery is inevitable for the young receiver.

Another major point of discussion was the role of Josh Allen in the franchise’s future. Both Pegula and Beane confirmed that the star quarterback will have input in the selection of the new head coach, though he had no say in McDermott’s firing. “Allen will have some say in who we hire for our opening head coach position,” Beane clarified. However, Pegula was quick to note, “Allen had no say at all in whether or not McDermott was fired. I spoke with Allen afterward, but the quarterback had no input.”

As for Allen’s health, Beane revealed that the quarterback might need work done on his foot but reassured fans that it shouldn’t impact his offseason. The Bills’ leadership made it clear that protecting their MVP-caliber quarterback remains a top priority, and Beane committed to collaborating with the next head coach to build a roster that fits the new vision.

With McDermott’s departure, the search for a new head coach is officially underway. Beane described the process as “100 percent an open search,” with no strict criteria regarding experience or age. Initial interview requests have reportedly gone out to former offensive coordinator and Giants head coach Brian Daboll, current offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Commanders run game coordinator Anthony Lynn, and Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Other names, like former Bills backup quarterback and current Broncos pass game coordinator Davis Webb, have also surfaced in media speculation. Pegula noted that the opening is “an appealing job,” and the team’s phones have been “ringing” with interest.

The press conference, broadcast live by local Buffalo news networks and streamed online, drew significant attention from both fans and national media outlets. The abrupt nature of McDermott’s dismissal, coupled with the franchise’s high expectations and recent underperformance, has fueled intense debate about the Bills’ direction. Some fans have expressed frustration with how the firing was handled, pointing to Pegula’s unwillingness to take media questions and the organization’s perceived lack of transparency. Others, however, see the shakeup as a necessary risk to finally reach the NFL’s biggest stage.

There’s no denying the stakes. With a talented roster, a franchise quarterback in his prime, and a fan base hungry for a Super Bowl, the pressure on Buffalo’s leadership has never been higher. As Beane put it, “We have an MVP quarterback, and we have got to help him get to the Super Bowl.” The coming weeks will reveal whether the Bills can find the right leader to break through the playoff wall that has defined this era.

For now, the Buffalo Bills stand at a pivotal juncture. The decisions made in the aftermath of this press conference could shape the franchise’s destiny for years to come. As the coaching search intensifies and roster questions loom, one thing is clear: Buffalo’s quest for a Super Bowl is far from over, and the road ahead promises plenty of drama, debate, and—perhaps—finally, a breakthrough.