Sean McDermott has been relieved of his duties as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills.

The announcement came on Monday, following the team’s overtime defeat to the Denver Broncos in the AFC playoffs’ divisional round. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network was the first to break the news of McDermott’s dismissal.

“There has been tension within the organization, and it seems this decision had been developing,” Rapoport commented on NFL Network shortly after the news surfaced.

Meanwhile, ESPN has confirmed that general manager Brandon Beane will remain in his position and is set to spearhead the search for the team’s 20th head coach.

“Sean has admirably led our football team for the past nine seasons,” team owner Terry Pegula remarked in a statement. “However, I believe a new leadership structure is necessary to propel our organization to the next level. We owe it to our players and the devoted Bills Mafia.”

McDermott put together an impressive nine-year run in Buffalo, going 98-50, while reaching the playoffs in all but one season. However, he won only eight playoff games and failed to get the Bills back to the Super Bowl over that time. 

Sean McDermott has been fired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills after nine seasons 

Denver safety Ja’Quan McMillian and Bills receiver Brandin Cooks fought for a pass 

Some fans believe that Cooks had full possession of the ball and that it should be ruled a catch

The postseason defeats have been excruciating. Saturday’s 33-30 loss in Denver marked the sixth time McDermott’s Bills were beaten in the fourth quarter or overtime of a playoff game. 

And to compound the misery for fans known as the Bills Mafia, Saturday’s painful loss came with a heavy dose of controversy. With the game tied at 30-30 and just under eight minutes left to play in overtime, Bills quarterback Josh Allen launched a deep pass intended for wide receiver Brandin Cooks on 3rd-and-11.

The Buffalo wideout appeared to come down with the ball deep in Broncos territory, but as he and Denver safety Ja’Quan McMillan tumbled along the turf, it was the defender who came away with it. Ultimately officials ruled Cooks didn’t maintain control of the pass as he hit the ground so the ball was still live when McMillian snatched it away.

McDermott was left furious over the call following his team’s devastating exit as he questioned the referee’s officiating.

‘It’s hard for me to – and I’ve had a chance to look at it – it’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,’ McDermott said following the game in what proved to be his final press conference as Bills head coach. 

‘If it is ruled that way, then why wasn’t it slowed down just to make sure that we have this right. That would have made a lot of sense to me, to make sure that we have this thing right, because that’s a pivotal play in the game. We have the ball at the 20 and we may be kicking a game-winning field goal right there, so I’ll just leave it at that.’

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane will be keeping his position, according to ESPN

Josh Allen reacts after another playoff disappointment on Saturday in Denver 

And if the call had gone the other way, McDermott would likely still have a job.  

‘Sean helped change the mindset of this organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team,’ Pegula continued. ‘I respect all the work, loyalty and attention to detail he showed for this team and the community.

‘Moving forward, Brandon Beane will now serve as the President of Football Operations / General Manager of the Buffalo Bills. 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 organization.’

It’s not clear what the next move is for McDermott, who previously served as a defensive coordinator in Philadelphia and Carolina.

The Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders are among the teams that either are or could be looking to hire a defensive coordinator.

Then there is the possibility that McDermott gets another offer to be a head coach. The Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens are all looking to hire head coaches after disappointing seasons, while the Atlanta Falcons (Kevin Stefanski) and New York Giants (John Harbaugh) vacancies have been filled.

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is rumored to be a future head coach

As for the Bills, there are no shortage of candidates.

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak springs to mind after helping Seattle secure the first seed in the NFC playoffs with a new quarterback, Sam Darnold. Another candidate could be fired New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who previously worked with Allen as the Bills offensive coordinator.

Another name to keep an eye on is Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who happens to be the younger brother of Green Bay Packers coach, Mike.

The question is whether or not there is a good fit for Buffalo, which still boasts the reigning MVP in Allen as the team heads into its new state-of-the-art stadium in Orchard Park next season. 

The problem, as Bills fans are all too aware, is that the team is head for a salary-cap crunch due to $32 million in dead money on the 2026 books.  Meanwhile, edge rushers Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa are both unrestricted free agents, as are linebackers Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson.