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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 25: Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills made the perhaps not-so-shocking decision to move on from head coach, Sean McDermott after Saturday afternoon’s loss to the Denver Broncos, which marked yet another year that McDermott and quarterback, Josh Allen, fell short in the playoffs.
In a year that was in many way supposedly the clearest road to postseason success for Buffalo, given that Buffalo’s kryptonite and long-standing conference rival, the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs, did not reach the playoffs, McDermott was out-coached by Sean Payton and Allen was not able to do enough to will the team to victory and move onto Sunday’s Conference Championship.
However, despite the coaching change, the Pagula family decided to not only keep on general manager Brandon Beane, but gave him a promotion to become both the GM and ‘President of Football Operations’.
Brandon Beane Promoted After Divisional Round Loss
“Moving forward, Brandon Beane will now serve as the President of Football Operations/General Manager of the Buffalo Bills.” The Bills published in a statement, detailing the fates of both McDermott and Beane.
“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.”
The statement also revealed that Beane – as one would expect – will head the search for a new head coach in the coming days.
“Beane will be leading the search for a new head coach and will be working directly with [Bills owner Terry] Pegula and Pete Guelli, who will now serve as President of Business Operations, during the interview and hiring process.” The statement concluded.
Bills Fans Unhappy At Decision To Promote Brandon Beane
In light of McDermott losing his jobs – a decision that split commentators, but did appease many disgruntled fans – the decision to ostensibly reward Beane feels somewhat unnatural, considering he too shares partial blame in the team’s inability to reach a championship for the first time since the Jim Kelly era.
And fans piled on to criticize owner, Terry Pegula, for making said decision in the same breath that McDermott lost his job.
@MySportsUpdate Wow! talk about losing a power struggle – it’s one thing to fire the head coach but to reward the guy who did not give Josh Allen WRs to work with seems odd.
“Wow! talk about losing a power struggle – it’s one thing to fire the head coach but to reward the guy who did not give Josh Allen WRs to work with seems odd.” WFAN sports talk radio host, Lori Rubinson wrote on social media after the announcement.
Some fans called into question his ability to assemble a competitive, playoff-caliber roster to lend support to All-Pro quarterback, Josh Allen.
@MySportsUpdate Has put together mediocre rosters and Sean McDermott and Josh Allen has consistently made it in the dance but he gets promoted? Oof
” [Beane] Has put together mediocre rosters and Sean McDermott and Josh Allen has consistently made it in the dance but he gets promoted? Oof”, another fan posted in response to the news on X.
And others pointed to his record in the draft of high-profile misses and first round draft busts.
Brandon Beane has sabotaged this team for nearly half a decade now and I want him gone. I can’t believe I trusted a man who gave me
Kaiir Elam, Boogie Basham, Cody ford, Zach moss, Keon Coleman, Dewayne Carter, (Landon Jackson and TJ Sanders) All at premium draft positions
“Brandon Beane has sabotaged this team for nearly half a decade now and I want him gone. I can’t believe I trusted a man who gave me Kaiir Elam, Boogie Basham, Cody ford, Zach moss, Keon Coleman, Dewayne Carter, (Landon Jackson and TJ Sanders) All at premium draft positions”, another fan pointed out.
Indeed, perhaps there is reason for fans to critique the promotion of a GM who has selected just two Pro Bowlers – running back, James Cook and tight end, Dawson Knox – going into his tenth year with the organization.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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