Bills Make Stunning Coaching Move After Heartbreaking Playoff Loss
The Buffalo Bills are making a change following their latest playoff setback, a 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round on Saturday.
Buffalo is reportedly firing head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons which included eight postseason appearances but no trips to the Super Bowl and several painful near-misses.
According to multiple insiders, Bills general manager Brandon Beane is safe and will lead the search for McDermott's replacement.
McDermott built strong resume, with one major hole
Hired in 2017, McDermott led the Bills to a playoff birth in his first season, the first for the franchise in 18 years. Overall, he compiled a 98-50 regular season record, including five straight AFC East titles from 2020-24.
McDermott and star quarterback Josh Allen have the most combined playoff wins by a QB/head coach duo in Bills history, surpassing Marv Levy and Jim Kelly, who took Buffalo to four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s.
Unfortunately, McDermott and Allen have also been part of multiple heartbreaking postseason defeats, including AFC Championship Game losses to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 and 2024 and the infamous "13 seconds" game against KC in the 2021 AFC Divisional Round.
The two never reached the Super Bowl together, with their final game coming Saturday against the Broncos, a loss that featured several critical turnovers from Allen and a controversial call involving wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
A wild coaching carousel
Overall, nine coaches were fired either during or after the 2025 season with a 10th, Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin, stepping down after nearly two decades at the helm.
Besides McDermott, the eight other fired coaches were:
- New York Giants: Fired Brian Daboll in-season
- Tennessee Titans: Fired Brian Callahan in-season
- Arizona Cardinals: Fired Jonathan Gannon
- Atlanta Falcons: Fired Raheem Morris
- Baltimore Ravens: Fired John Harbaugh
- Cleveland Browns: Fired Kevin Stefanski
- Las Vegas Raiders: Fired Pete Carroll
- Miami Dolphins: Fired Mike McDaniel
Harbaugh has since been hired by the Giants, while the Falcons signed on Stefanski over the weekend as well.
There are still eight openings remaining, so buckle up.