Even on one of his toughest days in the coaching business, Sean McDermott displayed nothing but class.

Just hours after being relieved of his duties as Buffalo Bills head coach, McDermott released a statement thanking Buffalo for his time with the team.

For nearly a decade I have had the opportunity to wake up every morning as the Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills, which has truly been a gift. I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Pegula family, the Buffalo Bills organization, and to the fans for allowing me to live out the dream of being a Head Coach in the NFL in this incredibly special place.

I am proud and humbled to have worked alongside amazing staff and players as we shared life together and poured out our hearts and souls into both winning football games and making a positive impact in our community. This community graciously embraced not only me but my family and in some ways helped raise our children over the last 9 years. For that I say thank you to all of the teachers, coaches, and friends whom we met along the way… the City of Good Neighbors! We Love You! We will miss Buffalo.

Bills Mafia, you are one of one! It has been a joy and inspiration to witness your passion and commitment first hand. I always wanted our teams to play with the same level of toughness and grit that is true to Buffalo and that you demonstrate every day!

God gave me and my family an incredible opportunity, one that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Yet we know that HE has a plan.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your head coach.

God Bless,

Sean McDermott

McDermott leaves Buffalo after nine seasons in which he went 98-50 in the regular season (.662 winning percentage) and 8-8 in the postseason. Although he was not able to get Buffalo over the hump to their first championship, McDermott should be credited with changing the culture in Buffalo. He inherited a team with a 17-year playoff drought and took the franchise to the playoffs in eight of nine seasons.

McDermott is not expected to be out of work long. His dismissal in Buffalo makes him one of the best head coach candidates available for teams looking to fill vacancies.