Why was Sean Mcdermott fired? All on Buffalo Bills' shocking move and what's next

The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott after another season without a Super Bowl appearance.

Updated on: Jan 19, 2026, 23:10:45 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott on Monday following yet another season that did not culminate in a Super Bowl appearance. However, the organization elevated Brandon Beane to the position of president of football operations.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott fired (AP Photo/RJ Sangosti) (AP)

Why was Sean Mcdermott fired?

“Sean has done an admiral job of leading our football team for the past 9 seasons,” Bills owner Terry Pegula stated in a statement. “But I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization 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 organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team," Pegula acknowledged in his statement.

The Bills suffered a defeat of 33-30 against the Denver Broncos during overtime in the AFC divisional round, concluding yet another season filled with disappointment. This marks the fourth occasion in five seasons that the Bills have been eliminated in the divisional round.

McDermott, 51, departs from Buffalo with a record of 98 wins and 50 losses, alongside an 8-8 postseason record, which includes two losses in the AFC championship to the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2020 and 2024 seasons. He achieved five consecutive AFC East titles from 2020 to 2024, finishing this season in second place with a record of 12-5, trailing the New England Patriots.

What's next for Bills?

Beane will continue to serve as the general manager while also assuming additional responsibilities, assisting in the team's quest for a new coach to guide the Bills during their inaugural season in the new stadium.

“Brandon will oversee all facets of our football operation,” Pegula stated. “... I have full faith in and have witnessed Brandon's outstanding leadership style and have confidence in his abilities to lead our organization.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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