ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. \u2014 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Sean McDermott arrived in Buffalo in 2017, envisioning the day of looking out his office window and seeing a throng of fans celebrating a Super Bowl victory.<\/p>\n
That possibility ended on Monday, when McDermott was abruptly fired by team owner Terry Pegula following a nine-year tenure in which the coach transformed the Bills into perennial contenders but fell short of reaching the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n
The move came two days after a heart-wrenching 33-30 overtime loss at Denver in the divisional round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSean helped change the mindset of this organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team,\u201d Pegula said. \u201dBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new structure features general manager Brandon Beane being promoted to president of football operations. Beane will oversee his first coaching search since arriving in Buffalo five months after McDermott, who replaced Rex Ryan following two seasons in Buffalo.<\/p>\n
Beane is expected to target an offensive-minded coach to spur an offense in which quarterback Josh Allen was too often asked to carry the burden.<\/p>\n
McDermott issued a statement through the NFL Network, in which he thanked the Pegula family, the Bills organization and fans, and referred to Buffalo \u201cas a special place.”<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 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,\u201d McDermott said. \u201cGod 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite a seven-year playoff run and Allen setting many franchise passing and scoring records and earning AP NFL MVP honors last season, the Bills advanced no further than the AFC championship game, which they lost both times to Kansas City in the 2020 and \u201924 seasons.<\/p>\n
Buffalo became the league\u2019s first team to win a playoff round in six consecutive years but not reach the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n
McDermott was aware of the shortcomings and addressed them in August.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe take a lot of pride in what we\u2019ve done here. And nobody has more internal drive and internal expectations than I do or we do. And very confident in who we are,\u201d McDermott said. \u201cThere\u2019s one thing that remains. We know what that is. But you can\u2019t get there tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tomorrow never came.<\/p>\n
The Bills went 12-5 in the regular season and had their five-year run atop the AFC East end, finishing second behind the New England Patriots.<\/p>\n
McDermott\u2019s firing is the latest in what\u2019s become a seismic shift in the NFL\u2019s coaching ranks this offseason. He became the 10th head coach to lose or step down from his job, joining a respected group that includes Baltimore\u2019s John Harbaugh and Pittsburgh\u2019s Mike Tomlin. Harbaugh has since been hired by the New York Giants.<\/p>\n
The 51-year-old McDermott finished with a 98-50 regular-season record and was 8-8 in eight postseason appearances, ranking second on the team in wins behind Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy (112-70, 11-8). McDermott\u2019s eight playoff wins are the most by any NFL coach to not include a Super Bowl berth.<\/p>\n
To his credit, in McDermott\u2019s first season, Buffalo sneaked into the postseason on the final day to end a 17-year drought that stood as the longest active streak in North America\u2019s four major professional leagues.<\/p>\n
Allen arrived a year later as a first-round draft pick to raise the franchise\u2019s national profile to among one of the NFL\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n
There is increasing urgency in Buffalo to win with Allen turning 30 in May, and with the team now moving into a newly built $2.1 billion stadium across the street from its old home.<\/p>\n
Allen was nearly inconsolable following the loss at Denver. Choking up several times and wiping tears from his eyes, Allen stood at the podium and took the blame following the loss in which he threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I let my teammates down tonight,\u201d Allen said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long season. I hate how it ended, and that\u2019s going to stick with me for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
McDermott rallied to Allen\u2019s defense. He then let his emotions show in questioning the officials\u2019 ruling on Allen\u2019s second interception, which ended Buffalo\u2019s lone possession in overtime.<\/p>\n
Receiver Brandin Cooks came down with Allen\u2019s deep pass, but had it wrestled out of his hands by Ja\u2019Quan McMillian. Officials ruled McMillian had the ball before Cooks was down by contact, and Denver was awarded the turnover at its 20.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I\u2019m standing up for us,\u201d McDermott said, noting he was particularly dismayed by how little time the league took to review the play.<\/p>\n
Each of Buffalo\u2019s past three playoff losses have been decided by three points. And three of McDermott\u2019s playoff losses ended in overtime.<\/p>\n
That includes a 42-36 loss to Kansas City in the 2021 divisional round that\u2019s become dubbed \u201c13 seconds\u201d \u2014 the amount of time Patrick Mahomes had to complete two passes for 44 yards and set up Harrison Butker\u2019s tying, 49-yard field goal on the final play of regulation.<\/p>\n
McDermott, otherwise, led a team that won 10 or more regular-season games over seven straight seasons.<\/p>\n
He also was credited with guiding the Bills through some difficult moments. The worst came in January 2023 when safety Damar Hamlin nearly died after collapsing and needing to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
Hamlin was one of several current and former players to express their support for McDermott following his firing. He posted a note on X referring to McDermott as \u201cA True Leader of Men.\u201d<\/p>\n
Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips described the firing as \u201cstupid honestly sickening.\u201d Former center Eric Wood posted a note that read: \u201cSean is a great man and will be a great hire for another organization, and I hate we couldn’t get over the hump with him as HC in Buffalo.”<\/p>\n
McDermott moved up the NFL ranks as a defensive specialist, and was hired by Buffalo following six seasons as Carolina\u2019s coordinator, and where Beane worked in a front office role.<\/p>\n
Together, McDermott and Beane provided the Bills with stability before fractures began showing this past season.<\/p>\n
Without mentioning Beane specifically, McDermott seemed to question several personnel decisions by referencing Buffalo\u2019s depleted secondary and a receiver group that lacked a downfield threat.<\/p>\n
Allen’s 3,668 yards and 25 touchdowns passing were his fewest since 2019.<\/p>\n
The defense struggled in part because of a transition to youth and a rash of injuries. Though Buffalo\u2019s defense finished ranked seventh in the NFL this season, the unit had difficulty stopping the run.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s in the playoffs where the defense was criticized for collapsing too often. Buffalo allowed 30 or more points in four of its playoff losses.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP NFL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nfl<\/p>\n
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