Bills fire McDermott, retain Beane to lead coaching search

The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott, the team announced Monday.

General manager Brandon Beane will remain with the organization and help lead the search for the team's next coach.

"Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past nine seasons," Bills owner Terry Pegula said in a statement. "But 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. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia."

Pegula added: "Brandon Beane will now serve as the president of football operations/general manager of the Buffalo Bills. Brandon will oversee all facets of our football operation, including the oversight of our coaching staff. I have full faith in and have witnessed Brandon's outstanding leadership style and have confidence in his abilities to lead our organization."

McDermott was hired as the Bills' head coach in 2017. Over his nine-year tenure, the 51-year-old posted a 98-50 record and secured five AFC East titles.

The dismissal follows Buffalo's 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in Saturday's divisional-round contest. Despite reaching the playoffs eight times under McDermott, the Bills never advanced to the Super Bowl.

Buffalo kicked a 50-yard field goal to tie the contest late in regulation Saturday but couldn't score in overtime. After stopping Denver on its first possession of the extra frame, the Bills allowed the Broncos to march down the field and score a game-winning field goal on their second drive.

However, controversy overshadowed overtime, highlighted by a pivotal play in which officials ruled Brandin Cooks' leaping catch attempt on third down an interception.

A frustrated McDermott criticized the referees postgame for making a rushed decision, insisting that officials should have reviewed the play.

"It's hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled," McDermott told reporters after the game. "If it is ruled that way, then why wasn't it slowed down? Just to make sure that we have this right."

He added: "I'm saying it because I'm standing up for Buffalo, damnit. I'm standing up for us. That's not how it should go down."

Playoff woes have plagued McDermott in recent years, with the veteran coach finishing his tenure in Buffalo with an 8-8 postseason record. The Bills also lost twice in the conference championship to the Kansas City Chiefs since 2020, including a 32-29 defeat last year.

Quarterback Josh Allen, drafted seventh overall in 2018, is now set to work with his second head coach since entering the league. Although the 2024 MVP winner threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, he also turned the ball over four times - the most he's recorded in a postseason game.

The Bills brought in McDermott after he served as the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator for five seasons. Since 2017, Buffalo's defense has allowed the fewest yards per game (314.6) and ranks third in EPA/play, according to Ben Baldwin's database.

The club also hired Beane as its general manager in 2017. The 49-year-old has struggled to provide Allen with consistent pass-catchers since trading away Stefon Diggs in 2024, as no Bills player has eclipsed 830 receiving yards over the last two seasons.