Less than 48 hours after seeing their season end in the divisional round for the fourth time in five years, the Buffalo Bills are making a massive change.
Buffalo fired coach Sean McDermott on Monday after nine seasons, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported, opting against staying the course following yet another deflating playoff exit.
McDermott went 98-50 with the Bills, reaching the playoffs eight times after taking over a franchise with a 17-year playoff drought. With Josh Allen at quarterback, however, Buffalo has failed to reach the Super Bowl, let alone win one.
Here’s what you need to know about McDermott’s firing in Buffalo.
Why did the Bills fire Sean McDermott?
The Bills announced McDermott’s firing Monday, with owner Terry Pegula saying he feels “we are in need of a new structure within our leadership” and promoting GM Brandon Beane to president of football operations.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 19, 2026
For several years, the Bills have avoided major changes despite repeated playoff disappointment, staying the course at quarterback, head coach and largely in the coordinator roles as well even without reaching their Super Bowl goals.
While Buffalo only narrowly lost to the AFC’s No. 1 seed in the divisional round this year, another disappointing January simply appeared to be the breaking point for the franchise.
With Allen consistently playing like one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks and Patrick Mahomes missing the playoffs entirely this season, this was expected to be the year in which the Bills had their clearest path to an AFC championship. Instead, they appeared to be stuck in neutral in the playoffs.
The Bills know they can essentially have their choice of major candidates because Allen makes the job so attractive, and they are confirming that they are no longer satisfied with anything less than a deep playoff run by axing McDermott after nine years.
Still, the decision to fire McDermott likely didn’t come lightly. The veteran coach took over a team that hadn’t even been to the playoffs in the 21st century when he was hired in 2017 and went to the playoffs seven times, averaging just under 11 wins per season. As attractive as the Bills job will be, the next head coach in Buffalo will walk into the new stadium knowing anything less than a Super Bowl appearance would be a disappointment.
Sean McDermott coaching record
| Season | W | L | Pct. |
| 2017 | 9 | 7 | .563 |
| 2018 | 6 | 10 | .375 |
| 2019 | 10 | 6 | .625 |
| 2020 | 13 | 3 | .813 |
| 2021 | 11 | 6 | .647 |
| 2022 | 13 | 3 | .813 |
| 2023 | 11 | 6 | .647 |
| 2024 | 13 | 4 | .765 |
| 2025 | 12 | 5 | .706 |
| Career | 98 | 50 | .662 |
McDermott went 98-50 in nine seasons with the Bills, winning 10.9 games per season and reaching the playoffs eight times. He is Buffalo’s second-winningest coach, behind only Marv Levy.
Sean McDermott playoff record
| Season | W | L | Result |
| 2017 | 0 | 1 | Lost in wild-card round |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | Missed playoffs |
| 2019 | 0 | 1 | Lost in wild-card round |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 | Lost in AFC championship |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | Lost in divisional round |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | Lost in divisional round |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | Lost in divisional round |
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | Lost in AFC championship |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | Lost in divisional round |
| Career | 8 | 8 | .500 |
McDermott was 8-8 across 16 playoff games with the Bills, reaching the AFC championship game twice but never advancing to the Super Bowl. Buffalo was 0-4 against Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs despite plenty of regular season success against the two-time MVP.
The Bills lost in the divisional round in four of McDermott’s final five seasons.
Sean McDermott Statement
McDermott thanked the Bills and the city of Buffalo with a lengthy statement on Monday night.
“We Love You! We will miss Buffalo. Bills Mafia, you are one of one!”
A classy statement from Sean McDermott following his surprising exit from Buffalo: pic.twitter.com/teRqQpmDE1
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 19, 2026
How old is Sean McDermott?
McDermott is 51 years old. He is set to turn 52 on March 21.
As the NFL goes younger in the head coaching role, McDermott will be an intriguing veteran option for teams, whether in this current coaching cycle or in future cycles.
How long did Sean McDermott coach the Bills?
McDermott spent nine seasons as head coach of the Bills. At the time of his firing, he was the NFL’s second longest-tenured coach behind only Andy Reid following the exits of Mike Tomlin from Pittsburgh and John Harbaugh from Baltimore.
The Bills had a 17-year playoff drought when McDermott was hired, but he reached the playoffs eight times in nine years in western New York.
Has Sean McDermott won a Super Bowl?
McDermott never won a Super Bowl during his time with the Bills. The Chiefs won the AFC five times in a span of six years during the height of the Bills’ success under McDermott, and Buffalo was 0-4 against Kansas City in the playoffs under McDermott.
Has Sean McDermott made a Super Bowl?
McDermott never reached the Super Bowl while with the Bills, which was viewed as a major disappointment considering Buffalo’s success in the regular season. The Bills lost in the divisional round four times under McDermott and in the AFC championship game twice.
McDermott’s only career Super Bowl appearances came as a defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles and as defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers.
