Former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott is not coaching during the 2026 NFL season after the Bills fired him following another disappointing playoff exit.
Buffalo officially relieved McDermott of his head coaching duties on January 19, 2026, ending a nine-season run in which he helped transform the Bills into one of the AFC’s most consistent playoff contenders.
Why Did the Buffalo Bills Fire Sean McDermott?
The Bills fired Sean McDermott following Buffalo’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round.
While McDermott enjoyed considerable regular-season success in Buffalo, the Bills repeatedly fell short of reaching the Super Bowl during the Josh Allen era.
Bills owner Terry Pegula explained that the organization believed a new structure was necessary to give Buffalo its best opportunity to take the next step.
The decision ended McDermott’s tenure despite another successful regular season and continued playoff contention.
Sean McDermott’s Record With the Buffalo Bills
McDermott became Buffalo’s head coach in 2017 and quickly helped change the direction of the franchise.
He finished his Bills tenure with a 98-50 regular-season record.
During his nine seasons, Buffalo made the playoffs eight times and won five AFC East division championships. Most importantly, McDermott helped the Bills end their 17-year playoff drought during his first season.
However, postseason results ultimately became the biggest issue.
Buffalo went 8-8 in playoff games under McDermott and never reached the Super Bowl.
Despite having Josh Allen at quarterback and routinely entering the postseason as an AFC contender, the Bills were unable to get over the final hurdle.
Who Replaced Sean McDermott as Bills Head Coach?
The Buffalo Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach following McDermott’s departure.
Brady had already developed familiarity with Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offensive personnel, allowing the Bills to maintain some continuity while changing their overall leadership structure.
That means fans watching the Bills during the 2026 NFL season will see Brady on the sideline as Buffalo’s head coach instead of McDermott.
Where Is Sean McDermott Now?
Sean McDermott is taking the 2026 NFL season away from coaching.
McDermott said in April that he planned to spend more time with his family while studying his tenure in Buffalo and evaluating areas where he could improve before pursuing another coaching opportunity.
His absence from an NFL sideline in 2026 therefore does not necessarily mean his coaching career is over.
Given his extensive head coaching experience and successful regular-season record in Buffalo, McDermott could potentially pursue another NFL coaching opportunity in the future.
Was Sean McDermott Fired or Did He Resign?
Sean McDermott was fired by the Buffalo Bills.
He did not resign, and his departure was not announced as being related to a health issue.
Buffalo made the coaching change following the Bills’ elimination from the 2025-26 NFL playoffs.
What Happened to Sean McDermott?
In short, Sean McDermott was fired by the Buffalo Bills on January 19, 2026, following Buffalo’s 33-30 overtime playoff loss to the Denver Broncos.
McDermott left Buffalo with a 98-50 regular-season record, eight playoff appearances and five AFC East championships, but the Bills never reached the Super Bowl during his nine seasons.
Joe Brady replaced McDermott as Buffalo’s head coach, while McDermott is spending the 2026 season away from coaching and could potentially return to the NFL in the future.