REVEALED: THE TENSE BUFFALO BILLS MEETING FIVE WEEKS AGO THAT SEALED SEAN MCDERMOTT'S FATE

The tension plaguing the Buffalo Bills in the weeks leading up to head coach Sean McDermott's firing has been unearthed in a new report. 

The 51-year-old head coach was fired from his position on Monday following nine seasons in charge in Buffalo. 

The news came following Saturday's gut-wrenching overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

However, it now appears that McDermott's fate was sealed long before the crushing loss in Denver. 

WGRZ-TV reported Tuesday that the relationship between McDermott and the Bills ownership began to sour five weeks before his dismissal. 

The coach is said to have met with Bills owner Terry Pegula and the team's general manager Brandon Beane, during which McDermott 'pointed out what the roster lacked to win a Super Bowl.'

McDermott's assessment did not appear to go over too well with neither Pegula nor Beane pleased with his comments, according to the report. 

The claim of the contentious sit-down between the trio mirrors reports from earlier this month that suggested that McDermott's future would be uncertain if the team didn't at least reach the Super Bowl this season. 

'Well this name keeps coming up in the event that Buffalo struggles and goes one-and-done in the playoff cycle,' Adam Schefter said about the Bills coach during a 'Safe or Out' segment on ESPN.

'He is an accomplished coach, he is someone that is respected, they've got a great record... they could win the Super Bowl this year and make it all null and void.

'But the fact of the matter is, people have brought his name. "What would happen with Sean McDermott [if the Bills don't win the Super Bowl?]"

'He's safe for now and we're gonna make him safe, but if Buffalo loses in the playoffs that would be a situation to watch.'

McDermott's Bills have come agonizingly to a Super Bowl appearance in recent years, with the Kansas City Chiefs beating them in the 2024 and 2020 AFC Championship games.

He has reached the postseason in seven of his eight full campaigns in charge, suffering three Divisional round defeats, two Wild Card exits and as many AFC Championship game losses.

With the Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals - the AFC's powerhouses in recent years - failing to make the postseason this year, it had been viewed as the Bills' ultimate chance to win the Super Bowl. 

However, with the Bills failing to make it to the big game yet again, McDermott would not be handed another chance. 

Pegula confirmed the decision on Monday, also announcing that Beane had been promoted to president of football operations. 

Beane will oversee his first coaching search since arriving in Buffalo five months after McDermott, who replaced Rex Ryan following two seasons.

Addressing the fans following the decision, McDermott said in a statement on Monday night: '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.

'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.

'I am proud and humbled to have worked alongside amazing staff and players as we shared life together and poured out our hearts and souls into both winning football games and making a positive impact in our community.

'This community graciously embraced not only me but my family and in some ways helped raise our children over the last 9 years. For that I say thank you to all of the teachers, coaches, and friends whom we met along the way...the City of Good Neighbors! We Love You! We will miss Buffalo.

'Bills Mafia, you are one of one! It has been a joy and inspiration to witness your passion and commitment first hand. I always wanted our teams to play with the same level of toughness and grit that is true to Buffalo and that you demonstrate every day!

'God gave me and my family an incredible opportunity, one that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Yet we know that HE has a plan. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your head coach.'

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2026-01-20T18:16:15Z