The Bills parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott on Jan. 19 after nine seasons in Buffalo. McDermott is regarded as one of the top coaches in the NFL, but after years of falling short in the AFC and being unable to reach the Super Bowl, the Bills believed it was time for a change.
After the Bills let go of McDermott just two weeks into the coaching search, many teams didn’t consider him a candidate. This might be because they were already deep into their selection process, or perhaps McDermott had no interest in the available positions.
McDermott Reportedly Didn’t Take a Coaching Job
It seems the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reached out to McDermott about joining their coaching staff in some capacity, but he declined.
Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman reported on Wednesday that the Buccaneers were interested in bringing McDermott onboard to join head coach Todd Bowles’ staff. Still, the belief is that McDermott will take a year off from coaching.
“Bucs talked to ex-Bills coach Sean McDermott to check about joining Todd Bowles’ staff, but he’s expected to take this year off and re-assess his options in 2027,” Auman wrote on X. “He overlapped with Jason Licht with Eagles 2003-07 and interviewed for Bucs’ HC job in 2016.”
McDermott Could Take a Path Like Mike Vrabel
McDermott could reconsider his decision and seek to return to a coaching role next season, potentially following a similar path to that of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
After the Tennessee Titans fired Vrabel following the 2023 season, he interviewed for several head coaching positions but ultimately didn’t secure a role. This could be because the teams were not interested in him, or perhaps he simply chose not to accept their offers.
Instead of taking on the role of head coach or even coordinator, he chose to join the Cleveland Browns staff under head coach Kevin Stefanski as a coaching and personnel consultant.
Vrabel took some time off while continuing his coaching duties, which ultimately prepared him for the Patriots to hire him as their head coach last offseason.
New England is just one victory away from clinching a Super Bowl title, and Vrabel made a wise decision by not hurrying into any head coaching positions during the 2024 cycle.
The Bills Hired Joe Brady For Their Next Head Coach
McDermott is likely to be one of the most sought-after names in the head coaching market next season. He could find himself in a situation similar to Vrabel’s, joining a team that needs a new head coach and is on the verge of making the playoffs. If he lands in the right spot, he could be poised to break through to the Super Bowl.
The Bills have decided to hire Joe Brady, the offensive coordinator under McDermott, as their new head coach. If McDermott secures a head coaching position next season, it could be with an AFC team. It would be exciting to see McDermott and Brady face off in postseason games for many seasons to come.
Former Bills HC Sean McDermott Reportedly Turned Down NFL Coaching Job