The Buffalo Bills have officially fired Sean McDermott following a disappointing end to the 2023 NFL season. This decision came merely two days after the team suffered a heartbreaking 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs. Sources with direct knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed this development as the organization had yet to publicly announce the decision.
McDermott's departure marks the end of a notable nine-season tenure during which he transformed the Bills into a consistent contender in the league. However, despite his success in leading the franchise to multiple playoff appearances, he faced criticism for not reaching the Super Bowl. Under McDermott's leadership, the Bills became the first NFL team to win a playoff game for seven consecutive years without making it to the Super Bowl.
During his time as head coach, McDermott compiled a regular-season record of 98 wins and 50 losses, along with a playoff record of 8 wins and 8 losses. His win total places him second on the team's all-time list, just behind Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy, who achieved 112 wins and 70 losses during his 11-year tenure—an era that included four consecutive Super Bowl appearances led by quarterback Jim Kelly in the early 1990s.
The crux of McDermott's downfall can be traced to his inability to secure a Super Bowl appearance with star quarterback Josh Allen. Although Allen has shattered several of Kelly's passing and scoring records, the Bills only made it to the AFC Championship game twice during McDermott's regime, losing both matches to the Kansas City Chiefs. Critics have highlighted that Buffalo's last three playoff exits were decided by three points, with three of McDermott's playoff losses occurring in overtime, underscoring the narrow margins that hindered the team's ultimate success.
Among the most memorable and significant of those playoff defeats was the 42-36 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2021 divisional round, often referred to as the "13 seconds" game. This matchup is notorious for Patrick Mahomes managing to complete two pass plays totaling 44 yards in just 13 seconds, enabling the Chiefs to tie the game with a last-second 49-yard field goal from kicker Harrison Butker before ultimately winning in overtime.
Despite his struggles in the playoffs, McDermott's leadership resulted in an impressive streak of regular-season success. He guided the Bills to 10 or more wins for seven consecutive seasons, including tying the franchise record with 13 wins in both 2022 and 2024. Over the course of his nine seasons, Buffalo reached the playoffs eight times, including a remarkable return in 2017 when the team ended a 17-year playoff drought, which was the longest active streak in North America's four major professional sports leagues at the time.
McDermott's era will be remembered for significant highs and lows—a resurgence of competitive spirit on the field juxtaposed with the lingering disappointment of playoff failures. The decision to part ways with him reflects a pivotal moment for the franchise as it seeks to build on the foundation he laid while also pursuing the ultimate prize: a Super Bowl championship.
