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A Sean McDermott petition to reinstate him as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills is gaining momentum online.
The Buffalo Bills let go of their head coach of nine seasons Sean McDermott on Monday, January 19, and the move wasn’t embraced by everyone, which is being made obvious by an online Sean McDermott petition. Immediately after the news surfaced, the Bills fanbase spoke up, with a large number of them posting messages online saying that they didn’t want to let McDermott go.
Now, it’s impossible to make everybody happy with these decisions in the NFL. But, the online chatter made it clear that many people were not pleased with this move and felt that McDermott was the scapegoat.
“Sean has done an [admirable] job of leading our football team the past nine seasons,” Bills owner Terry Pegula said in a statement upon McDermott’s release. “But I feel we are in a 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.”
McDermott, 51, had led the Buffalo Bills to five consecutive AFC East division titles from 2020-24. But, the Buffalo Bills were just 8-8 in the playoffs under McDermott, and the team’s January 17 loss in the playoffs in a 33-30 defeat to the Broncos was a heartbreaker. McDermott also held a 98-50 record with the Bills and made the postseason in eight of his nine seasons.
So, Bills fans are making their feeling about McDermott known, and they’re not backing down.
Sean McDermott Petition to Reinstate Him as Buffalo Bills’ Head Coach
Now, there’s an online petition to reinstate Sean McDermott as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, and it’s gaining steam. The petition is up to more than 70,000 signatures.
“Firing Sean McDermott seems like a step backward, negating all the progress we’ve made under his guidance,” the petition reads, penned by Maria Maisonet. “The decision appears to be short-sighted, overlooking his contributions and the respect he commands among players and fans alike. Statistics back his successful tenure, with a winning percentage among one of the best in recent history for the team.”
Maisonet adds, “Let’s not allow this decision to dismantle the solid foundation that has been painstakingly built. It is critical to make our voices heard to convince the Buffalo Bills management to reconsider and reinstate Sean McDermott as the head coach.”
Extra Support for the Sean McDermott Petition
It’s not just the organizers. People are commenting on the petition to share their thoughts, too.
“As a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, born and raised right here in Western New York, practically on a folding table amid the tailgate chaos, I’ve bled blue and red since day one,” a supporter named Bill writes. “Hearing talks about firing Coach Sean McDermott just doesn’t sit right with me, and I think it’s the wrong move for our team.”
He adds, “I’m throwing my two cents out there anyway, even if it gets lost in the shuffle, because us fans deserve a voice, especially as taxpayers who’ve chipped in to keep this franchise thriving (hello, stadium funding). Look, McDermott has earned his spot in Buffalo…”
Now, will this work? It’s highly unlikely. But, it shows the passion these people have for McDermott and what he’s done for the Buffalo Bills franchise.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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