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Sean McDermott receives scrutiny for using absurd 9/11 analogy
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Sean McDermott receives scrutiny for using absurd 9/11 analogy in 2019 meeting

Bills head coach Sean McDermott came under scrutiny on Thursday after a scathing expose from Go Long TD's Tyler Dunne revealed an idiotic, tone-deaf speech he gave his players in 2019 when he suggested his team needed to rally around each other the same way hijackers did on Sept. 11, 2001.

"He told the entire team they needed to come together... He cited the hijackers as a group of people who were all able to get on the same page to orchestrate attacks to perfection," wrote Dunne, who also noted, "Seven sources confirmed the story."

That's a shockingly poor analogy to make, and it was received terribly.

"No one could fathom the insanity," added Dunne.

The three-part series shares several unseemly details about the McDermott era in Buffalo, but all pale in comparison to his absurd 9/11 analogy.

Per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg, on Thursday McDermott said he immediately apologized to those in attendance at the 2019 meeting that his speech on the importance of communication wasn't communicated properly.

The entire episode paints McDermott as a buffoon unable to connect with his players, which in part could explain the team's underperformance this season.

Buffalo (6-6) was one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl ahead of the season but is instead a fringe playoff contender. The team fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey following a 24-22 loss to Denver, which, according to Dunne, was predicted by some in the organization before the season even began.

"That's why one coach — in June —  began by asking a simple question," wrote Dunne. "'If they fail again this year? What does ownership do with Sean? ... Next year if they fail, you know who'll be the first person he serves up? Ken Dorsey,'" said the coach.

If the Bills fail to make the postseason, it's pretty easy to predict who the next to be fired will be.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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