Former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has been making media appearances in recent weeks, especially as the Pro Football Hall of Fame prepares to induct former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, whom McDermott coached in Carolina.
Kuechly’s great play is one of the reasons why McDermott was able to leave his position as Carolina’s defensive coordinator and become the head coach of the Bills in 2017. However, McDermott no longer has a job in Buffalo, as the organization fired him in January.
One of the big knocks on McDermott was that he was unable to reach the Super Bowl while coaching the Bills. Even though he never made it to the big game, he is still proud of his success in Buffalo.
“You have to be intentional about recognizing the success that we did have, McDermott said Wednesday on the “Jim Rome Show”. “You go through and get the job; there was a 17-year playoff drought before we set foot on campus at One Bills Drive. So, in our first year, we were able to break the streak; then, from there, it was eight of nine seasons making the playoffs. So much success and the ability not only to succeed but sustain it, which is really hard to do. I’m not sure which is harder: breaking the playoff drought or sustaining it. Probably sustaining it. So proud of our staff, the building at the time, and the way we grew as an organization. I really feel strongly about my time there and the success that we did have.”
McDermott Took the Bills to Great Places
McDermott should feel extremely proud of what he accomplished with the Bills. As he mentioned, he took a team that missed the playoffs in 17 seasons to the postseason in his first year. The only season when McDermott missed the playoffs as the Bills’ head coach was in 2018, when Josh Allen was still a rookie.
The Bills were able to go places under McDermott that fans never thought they could reach again after starting so badly in the 2000s and 2010s.
Even though McDermott was never able to win a Super Bowl with the Bills, he still has a goal of leading a franchise there one day.
McDermott Wants to Win a Super Bowl as a Head Coach
“I have a burning desire in my heart to do that [win a Super Bowl] and lead an organization to a world championship,” McDermott added.
McDermott is not currently coaching in the NFL, but it likely won’t be long before he is walking the sidelines as an NFL head coach once again.
Many times, after a successful NFL head coach loses their job, they take a season off from football or take a small coaching role. They understand that they will likely have opportunities to be a head coach again and can choose the job they want. Former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel served as a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns in 2024 after being fired by Tennessee. He then became the head coach of the New England Patriots last season.
McDermott could follow the same path Vrabel did, which worked out well for Vrabel, as he went to the Super Bowl in his first season as New England’s head coach.
Former Bills HC Sean McDermott Shares Honest Take on Time in Buffalo