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Sean McDermott fired off his thoughts on the refs and the NFL after his final game as the Bills head coach.
The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott shortly after they lost to the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round.
McDermott, who famously ended the Bills’ 17-year playoff drought and led Buffalo to five consecutive AFC East titles during his tenure, was furious during what turned out to be his final press conference with the franchise.
While there were multiple questionable penalties in overtime, the referees’ calling Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks’ catch an interception left McDermott irate.
He hated the call on the field and criticized the league’s replay review process. “It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,” McDermott told reporters. “And if it is ruled that way, then why wasn’t it slowed down just to make sure that we have this right. That would have made a lot of sense to me – to make sure we have this thing right.
“Because that’s a pivotal play in the game. We (would have had) the ball at the 20, maybe kicking a game-winning field goal right there.”
GettyBuffalo Bills QB Josh Allen and former head coach Sean McDermott
After his press conference, McDermott continued to go off during a pool report. “We’re not just going to sit here and take it,” he said. “I’m pissed off about it, and I feel strongly as I’ve looked at it in review in my own locker that it’s a catch, and that the process should have been handled differently.”
The League Doesn’t Announce Coaches’ Fines Along With Player Fines
While the NFL announces player fines on the Saturday after game day, coaches’ fines are announced separately, if at all. The team may decide not to disclose such information publicly.
Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon’s $100,000 fine following a sideline altercation with Emari Demercado was reported by the AP “on condition of anonymity [sic] because the team did not announce the fine.”
McDermott likely knew he may incur a fine upwards of six figures before his postgame tirade, but was too fired up to care. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was fined $100,000 for criticizing officials in 2023.
The NFL policy manual states, “Please note that public criticism by players or club employees of game officials or officiating is prohibited and is subject to fines and/or suspensions.” However, fines for criticizing officials can also take longer to announce.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported in 2016, “There are certainly documented instances of NFL players or coaches paying fines for public criticism, but the league considers the circumstances of the offense and typically works on a timetable that is longer than the one-week response it gives to other postgame fines.”
As of Sunday, January 25, there was still no news of McDermott receiving a fine. The 51-year-old finished out his career in Buffalo with a 98-50 regular-season record, the second-winningest coach in Bills history.
Sean McDermott Shared a Classy Goodbye Message to Buffalo
Former Bills coach Sean McDermott salutes the fans as he walks off the field after a 27-24 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While fans criticized the Bills’ front office for how they handled firing McDermott, the 51-year-old departed the franchise with a heartfelt message.
“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,” he started. “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.”
Emily Bicks covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Bills, Seahawks and Chiefs. She’s contributed to Heavy since 2019 and has interviewed some of the biggest stars in sports, including Jerry Rice, Shaquille O’Neal and Stefon Diggs. More about Emily Bicks
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