Bills head coach Sean McDermott signals to go for it on fourth and short during the second half of their game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

Sean McDermott Fired After 7 Straight Playoff Runs

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Howe Fresh | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 8:18 AM ET

Another one bites the dust. The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott after a loss in the AFC Divisional Round against the Denver Broncos. After years of building the team into a playoff contender with high expectations, the growth has plateaued, and the Bills are ready for a change.

McDermott History

McDermott deserves credit for reinvigorating Buffalo into relevance. In his first year with the team, he broke the 18-year playoff drought with quarterback Tyrod Taylor. From 2018 to 2025, he was paired with Allen.

Outside of Allen’s freshman year, the Bills have made the postseason every season. They’ve also finished no worse than the Divisional Round since 2019, and have had a top-ten offense since 2020. The playoff curse may have been broken, but the Super Bowl drought lives on. The team’s last appearance may strike a nerve with fans of the team. They’ve yet to see the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the building since 1993, the final appearance of four consecutive Super Bowl losses.

McDermott Fallout

The postgame press conference was emotional for the players following the 33-30 loss to the Broncos. Quarterback Josh Allen had the world’s empathy postgame, as he poured his soul and accepted complete responsibility. He had a couple of interceptions and fumbles in the game, but in the big picture, Allen more than carries his weight. NFL reports on comments and statements from after the game.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17), right, celebrates his touchdown with teammate tight end Dawson Knox (88) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

“Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past 9 seasons,” said owner Terry Pegula. “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.”

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“For nearly a decade I have had the opportunity to wake up every morning as the Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills, which has truly been a gift,” McDermott said in his statement to Pelissero. “I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Pegula family, the Buffalo Bills organization, and to the fans for allowing me to live out the dream of being a Head Coach in the NFL in this incredibly special place.”

End Of My Sean McDermott Rant

McDermott is yet another big name to fall off the coaching carousel. The non-extensive list consists of John Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, Mike Tomlin, Kevin Stafanski, and Mike McDaniel. The NFL already looks like a world of difference next season, and the Super Bowl of this one is yet to arrive.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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