Through seven seasons on the job, Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott has the highest winning percentage of franchise history at .640. His 73 wins are also second in franchise history only to the great Marv Levy.
Yet despite his status as one of the Bills' best coaches ever, many have begun to sour on McDermott. This sentiment was especially evident when Buffalo hit a skid in the middle of last season, when many were calling for McDermott's job. After falling short in the playoffs once again, at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs no less, the calls for McDermott's job have started up again, albeit not quite as loud as before.
As the Bills' postseason failures under McDermott continue, many fans are left feeling fed up and frustrated. For former MVP quarterback Rich Gannon, one of the best signal-callers to never win a Super Bowl, the frustration from Bills Mafia is easy to understand.
“I get the frustration from the fan base,” Gannon told The Athletic. “They win a lot of games in the regular season and they keep stubbing their toe in the postseason. It’s natural to wonder if Sean McDermott maybe is not good enough and ask ‘Why can’t we win? Time is running out.’”
However, Gannon doesn't believe that McDermott is what's preventing the Bills from winning their first Lombardi Trophy. With McDermott and superstar quarterback Josh Allen, Gannon thinks the ultimate goal is within reach for the Bills, even if it gets harder each year.
“Look around the league,” Gannon said. “They have a top-five situation. They have an outstanding quarterback and a terrific football coach. It’s rare to have both in the same city.
“If I was starting a team, those are two people I’d love to start with. So let’s not waste any energy on those two. Let’s figure out how to get across the finish line.”
So, what does Gannon believe the problem is? Unfortunately, it's just bad luck.
After being under the New England Patriots' heel for 20 years, the Bills now find themselves under the rule of the Chiefs, the NFL's newest dynasty. That's just the reality of the league sometimes, though, and if the Bills want to get over a hump, they'll have to find a way to slay the dragon at some point.
“Too bad! It’s called bad luck,” Gannon said. “You’ve got another dynasty in the making. It’s a unique circumstance.
“You’ve got to find a way to take them down, and sometimes you need a bit of good fortune.”
So while McDermott may not be a perfect coach, Gannon knows that there are many worse options out there than there are better ones. As such, he issued a warning to those Bills fans who want to see McDermott go.
“Sean McDermott has built a winner in Buffalo,” said Gannon, “and the problem is when you get to the postseason and you come up short, people start getting antsy. I would say, ‘You don’t like the guy you have? No problem. Let’s move on. So who is going to replace him? Who is going to be better?’
“‘I need an answer. Be careful what you wish for.'”
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