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Former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott shared a statement to fans after being fired by the team on Monday (January 19) after team owner Terry Pegula confirmed the move earlier in the day.
"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. "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 plan.
"Thank you for allowing me to serve as your head coach.
"God Bless,
"Sean McDermott."
Pegula confirmed that general manager Brandon Beane will not only be retained and lead the search for McDermott's replacement, but will also "now serve as the President of Football Operations/General Manager of the Buffalo Bills."
McDermott was hired by the Bills in 2017 and the team has been a perennial contender for the majority of his tenure, making the playoffs eight times in nine seasons and winning the AFC East Division title five consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2024. Buffalo hasn't, however, made a Super Bowl appearance in that span, losing twice in the AFC Championship Game, four times in the AFC Divisional Game and twice in the AFC Wild Card Game.
The Bills finished the 2025 season second in the AFC East Division standings and sixth in the AFC, defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-24, before a 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos this past weekend.
Many believed Buffalo faced its most open run to the Super Bowl with the absence of the Kansas City Chiefs, who eliminated the Bills four times during McDermott's tenure, prior to Saturday's loss.