Sean McDermott, recently dismissed as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, is actively reflecting on his eight-year tenure with the team and identifying areas for improvement as he looks toward his next NFL opportunity. McDermott revealed in an interview on the “Rich Eisen Show” that he has sought feedback from individuals within the Bills organization to gain a clearer understanding of his coaching approach and its impact.
McDermott, who was fired after the Bills' overtime playoff loss, stated that the time away from the day-to-day demands of being a head coach has provided a valuable opportunity for reflection. "When you’re a head coach or a leader of any sort, you don’t always get this space to just live life and to reflect,” McDermott said. “I’ve been reflecting on my journey in Buffalo. The good things, the things I’d like to do differently in the next go-around.”
He indicated that feedback from unnamed Bills personnel highlighted a need for him to be more open and share more of his personal self with the players. "It hit me between the eyes,” McDermott said of the feedback. “Hey, sharing more of myself. Sharing more of who Sean really is. From a personal level, dropping my guard a little bit and really just showing them my true self as a person. I think that just comes from getting so focused on the job and the task at hand.”
During his tenure, McDermott compiled a regular-season record of 98-50 and led the Bills to the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons. However, the team was unable to advance to a Super Bowl, including two AFC Championship Game losses to the Kansas City Chiefs. He did not specify if he had spoken directly with star quarterback Josh Allen or other players. Joe Brady, who served on McDermott's staff from 2022-2025, is now coaching Allen as the offensive coordinator.
McDermott described his process as a "blind-spot type of exercise," reaching out to people within the Buffalo organization whose opinions he respects. "Because sometimes as a head coach, not everything gets to the top of the food chain. Every story. Every truth. So just going back and probing because, I want to know. I want to know what I don’t know,” he explained.
McDermott is currently fulfilling the remaining two years of his contract with the Bills, earning $8 million per season. He has reportedly been seen at NFL practices, including a joint practice between the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans, sparking speculation about potential future roles, though no formal position has been announced. McDermott has resisted the idea of taking an assistant coaching position, expressing his desire to return as a head coach in the NFL.