Buffalo Bills Fire Sean McDermott After Playoff Heartbreak

The winds of change are sweeping through Orchard Park as the Buffalo Bills, a team long defined by their resilience and playoff heartbreaks, officially parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott on January 19, 2026. The announcement, made less than 48 hours after a gut-wrenching 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round, marks the end of a nine-year era that transformed the Bills from perennial underdogs into consistent contenders.

Owner Terry Pegula addressed the move with a mixture of gratitude and steely resolve. "Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past 9 seasons," Pegula stated. "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." Pegula’s remarks echoed the bittersweet sentiment felt across Buffalo—a city that has lived and breathed football heartbreak for decades, yet found new hope under McDermott’s stewardship.

McDermott’s tenure was nothing short of transformative. Hired on January 11, 2017, after stints as defensive coordinator for both the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, he inherited a franchise mired in mediocrity. The Bills had failed to make the playoffs since 1999. That changed in McDermott’s very first season, as he led the team to a 9-7 record and snapped an 18-year postseason drought. What followed was a run of success unseen in Buffalo since the glory days of the early 1990s.

Under McDermott, the Bills made eight playoff appearances in nine seasons, captured five consecutive AFC East titles from 2020 to 2024, and posted a sparkling 98-50 regular-season record—second only to the Kansas City Chiefs during that span. His .662 winning percentage ranks 15th-best in NFL history. Yet, for all the regular season glory, the postseason proved a tougher mountain to climb. The Bills went 8-8 in the playoffs under McDermott, twice reaching the AFC Championship Game only to fall to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in both the 2020 and 2024 seasons.

The latest playoff exit against Denver was emblematic of the Bills’ recent postseason woes—close, dramatic, and ultimately heartbreaking. Quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning league MVP and face of the franchise, committed four turnovers in the loss but also rallied the team to a late lead and forced overtime. The game ended on a controversial interception, with referees ruling that receiver Brandin Cooks did not complete the process of the catch, allowing Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian to set up the game-winning kick. The defeat marked the fourth time in five years that the Bills were ousted in the divisional round, and the fourth one-score playoff loss out of their last five, with a combined margin of just 15 points. Two of those defeats came in overtime.

The playoff heartbreaks have become a painful tradition in Buffalo. Since 2020, four of the Bills’ postseason losses have come at the hands of the Chiefs, fueling a rivalry that has defined the AFC in recent years. For Allen, who will turn 30 in May and is entering his ninth season, the search for a new head coach means a fresh start—and perhaps, a new path to the elusive Super Bowl. Allen’s playoff record stands at eight wins, the most by any quarterback without a Super Bowl start in the Super Bowl era.

McDermott’s impact went far beyond the win-loss columns. He was credited with changing the culture and mindset of the organization. "Sean helped change the mindset of this organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team," Pegula said. "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." McDermott himself often spoke of his commitment to doing things the right way and giving hope to a community that had endured so much sports heartbreak. "Yes, I want to win a Super Bowl and a world championship. What's also important to me, however, is doing things the right way and giving a community hope maybe that they hadn't experienced lately," he reflected before the 2025 season.

On the field, McDermott’s teams were known for their defensive prowess. The Bills allowed the third-fewest points per game (20.2) during his tenure, though their road playoff record was a dismal 1-7, with the defense giving up 28.7 points per game in those contests. The 2025 squad boasted the league’s leading pass defense and was led on the ground by James Cook, who became Buffalo’s first NFL rushing champion since O.J. Simpson in 1976. Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, architect of the team’s top-tier running game, announced his retirement just a day before McDermott’s firing.

The Bills’ decision to move on from McDermott is not without controversy. Defensive tackles Jordan Phillips and DaQuan Jones voiced their frustration on social media, with Phillips writing, "This s--- here is so stupid honestly sickening," and Jones adding, "Don't make sense but ya got what ya wanted." The locker room reaction underscores just how deeply McDermott was respected by his players, even as the organization felt a new direction was needed.

With McDermott out, the Bills wasted no time in restructuring their leadership. Brandon Beane, the team’s general manager since 2017 and a key architect of the Bills’ resurgence, was promoted to President of Football Operations while retaining his GM duties. "Brandon will oversee all facets of our football operation, including the oversight of our coaching staff. I have full faith in and have witnessed Brandon's outstanding leadership style and have confidence in his abilities to lead our organization," Pegula declared. Beane, along with Pegula and new President of Business Operations Pete Guelli, will spearhead the search for Buffalo’s next head coach.

The coaching vacancy in Buffalo is one of the most attractive in the NFL, with 10 teams now seeking new head coaches this offseason. The chance to work with Josh Allen, a new stadium set to open in 2026, and a roster that includes young talent on both sides of the ball, makes the Bills’ job a prime landing spot for top candidates. Meanwhile, McDermott is expected to draw interest from other teams with coaching vacancies, given his track record of turning around a struggling franchise and building a winning culture.

As the Bills prepare to turn the page, the city of Buffalo finds itself at another crossroads—hopeful that a new era of leadership can finally deliver the Super Bowl glory that has eluded them for so long. For McDermott, a respected leader and builder, the next challenge awaits elsewhere. For the Bills and their fans, the quest for a championship continues, with fresh voices and new dreams on the horizon.