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Atlanta, GA – I was having a conversation with my colleagues last week about the current NFL head coaching openings. At the time, there were eight. One of them said, “Don’t be surprised if two more open up by the end of the playoffs.” He couldn’t have been more right.
Sean McDermott became the latest of two head coaches dismissed despite leading a playoff team, as the Buffalo Bills decided to move in a new direction following another disappointing postseason exit.
McDermott’s firing has sparked mixed reactions across the league and among Bills fans. On one hand, his resume in Buffalo is impressive. He snapped the franchise’s 17-year playoff drought in his first season in 2017, guided the Bills to seven consecutive 10-plus win seasons, and reached the AFC Championship Game twice. Under his leadership, Buffalo transformed from an afterthought into a perennial contender.
On the other hand, critics point to what ultimately doomed his tenure: postseason results. An 8–8 playoff record and zero Super Bowl appearances, despite rosters loaded with talent, made it difficult for the organization to justify staying the course. Fair or not, expectations in Buffalo had shifted from “competitive” to “championship or bust.”
That raises the biggest question surrounding McDermott’s exit. Who deserves the blame, Sean McDermott or Josh Allen? This season felt like a missed opportunity. In a playoff field that did not include Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow, the path to the Super Bowl appeared as open as it has ever been for Buffalo. Yet the Bills failed to capitalize. Josh Allen struggled in the postseason loss, turning the ball over four times and putting his team in difficult positions throughout the game. Allen has, at times, developed a reputation for mistakes in crucial moments. However, it is also true that more often than not, he is the primary reason the Bills win at all. His ability to extend plays, create offense out of nothing, and carry the team cannot be ignored.
At the same time, Buffalo’s defense has quietly been a recurring issue in playoff failures. The Bills have lost multiple postseason games after holding fourth-quarter leads, most notably the infamous 13-second collapse against the Chiefs. More recently, defensive breakdowns against the Broncos told a familiar story. Poor third-down defense, struggles in the red zone, and allowing explosive plays at the worst possible moments have haunted Buffalo year after year.
In the end, this decision feels less about one game and more about cumulative frustration. Going into the playoffs, I genuinely believed Sean McDermott’s job was safe. While I expected the Bills to make a deeper run, I didn’t foresee a firing. But when superstar quarterbacks across the league had down years and the door was wide open, Buffalo still couldn’t get it done. In situations like that, someone usually pays the price.
There have also been reports suggesting McDermott was difficult to work with internally, though the specifics remain unclear. For one reason or another, he could not get Josh Allen and the Bills over the championship hump.
Now, Buffalo faces a critical crossroads. With Josh Allen turning 30 in May and entering the back half of his prime, the Bills must find a head coach who can maximize their window and finally deliver a Super Bowl appearance. The margin for error is shrinking, and the next hire may define the franchise’s future for years to come.
