Bills fire Sean McDermott after latest playoff failure

Field Level Media|published: Mon 19th January, 10:17 2026

Jan 17, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott during overtime of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Empower Field against the Denver Broncos at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Sean McDermott was fired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills on Monday.

McDermott, 51, went 98-50 in the regular season with eight additional playoff wins and eight losses in nine seasons as coach of the Bills.

His final game was another playoff heartbreaker, losing 33-30 in overtime at Denver on Saturday.

McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen have not reached a Super Bowl but held the lead in the fourth quarter against the Broncos in the divisional playoff defeat on Saturday. It was the fourth playoff loss since 2022 in which the Bills lost despite leading in the fourth quarter.

Allen has the most career wins (eight) and starts (15) in the playoffs by any quarterback who has never started in the Super Bowl.

The Bills became the 10th team to make a coaching change since the end of the 2025 regular season. The New York Giants hired John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski was named head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, leaving eight vacancies.

McDermott led the Bills to five consecutive AFC East titles from 2020-24.

ESPN reported that Buffalo is retaining general manager Brandon Beane, who will lead the search for a new coach as the Bills prepare to debut their new stadium in 2026.

--Field Level Media

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