The Buffalo Bills have dismissed head coach Sean McDermott following a nine-year tenure defined by sustained regular-season success but repeated postseason disappointment.

The decision, which was revealed by a league source, comes less than 48 hours after Buffalo’s latest playoff exit, a 33–30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the Saturday’s Divisional round game at Mile High.

Despite the presence of franchise quarterback Josh Allen and league-leading rusher James Cook, the Bills were again unable to get closer to the Super Bowl as their defense proved unable to contain Bo Nix’s mercurial Denver offense. It leaves another season of discontent for Bills fans as, under McDermott, Buffalo had become one of the league’s most consistent regular season contenders, having reached the Divisional round in six consecutive seasons and advanced to the AFC Championship Game twice, in 2020 and 2024. Both of those title game appearances ended in losses to the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past nine seasons,” team owner Terry Pegula said in an official statement, “but I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organisation the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia.

“Sean helped change the mindset of this organisation and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team. I respect all the work, loyalty and attention to detail he showed for this team and the community.”

McDermott concludes his tenure with a 98–50 regular-season record and an 8–8 mark in the postseason. His teams qualified for the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons, including his first year in 2017, when Buffalo ended a 17-year playoff drought. With 98 career wins, McDermott ranks second in franchise history, trailing only Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy, who recorded 112 victories over 12 seasons and guided the Bills to four, albeit losing, Super Bowl appearances.

McDermott’s exit takes the total of head coaching vacancies 10 for the season, with only those at the New York Giants — who have allegedly hired John Harbaugh — and the Atlanta Falcons, with Kevin Stefanski, having been filled.

Despite also attracting criticism from the fanbase, erstwhile GM Brandon Beane will gain a new title as he leads the search for a new head coach, working directly with Pegula and Pete Guelli, who will now serve as president of business operations, during the interview and hiring process.

“Moving forward, Brandon will now serve as the president of football operations / general manager of the Buffalo Bills,” Pegula revealed. “Brandon will oversee all facets of our football operation, including the oversight of our coaching staff. I have full faith in and have witnessed Brandon’s outstanding leadership style and have confidence in his abilities to lead our organisation.”

Buffalo’s decision comes despite much of the roster speaking positively about McDermott, who led the team to at least 12 regular season victories in four of the last six seasons.

“He just showed me how he could build a team with guys with the same mindset as him, that want to run through walls,” linebacker Shaq Thompson said in the locker room. “And I believe everybody in that locker room would have ran through the wall for Coach McDermott.”

McDermott’s dismissal comes on the heels of O-line coach Aaron Kromer’s announcement that he is to retire now the season is over, and casts doubt on the future of OC Joe Brady, who has come under fire from fans. That does not appear to have deterred rival teams from interviewing Brady for head coach vacancies, especially after he guided the Bills offense to a second consecutive top three league-wide ranking in terms of points scored. Buffalo were the AFC’s top scoring offense in both 2024 and 2025.

“Selfishly, I’d love to have him back,” tight end Dawson Knox told the team website. “I’d love to say he’s a terrible coach so no one else will hire him, but that’s not the truth.”