The Buffalo Bills’ recent loss to the Denver Broncos not only marked the end of their Super Bowl dreams but also brought Sean McDermott’s nine-year tenure to a close. Yes, there were commendable results along the way, but they ultimately weren’t enough. The team cited a need for a “new structure,” according to owner Terry Pegula. What’s striking, though, is that McDermott doesn’t sound like someone holding onto resentment, at least not publicly.

“This community graciously embraced not only me but my family and in some ways helped raise our children over the last nine years,” McDermott’s farewell message read. “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.”

But no matter how much love spills out in public, the discussion behind closed doors probably wasn’t an endearing one.

The turning point was the Buffalo Bills’ 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, a playoff pattern the Bills’ front office became all too familiar with. With Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson cleanly tucked to the side earlier in the season, this was easily the closest Josh Allen had ever come to a Super Bowl run. However, mistakes reigned supreme on Saturday.

With five total turnovers giving away 16 points to the Broncos, Allen’s four interceptions, including one in overtime, set their fate in stone. Yet the most formidable mistake was McDermott’s.

As per an interesting statistic reported by CNN’s Harry Enten, teams going on offense first in the new overtime rules see more success than when a head coach chooses offense. Think, nine wins to seven losses and a tie. While that is an “admittedly limited sample size, for a team desperate to find gaps, that stands as a glaring one. Especially, when Denver perfectly took advantage of the situation and scored first in the third possession in OT. But that was not the only advantage they allegedly got.

In a ruling most will probably rue for years on end, Allen’s deep pass on third-and-11 from Buffalo’s 36-yard line to Brandin Cooks in OT was termed an interception. Here’s where the problem arises.

The contention was whether Cooks had completed the process of the catch before the ball was wrestled away by Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillan. Referees explained, “the defender is the one that completed the process of the catch, so the defender was awarded the ball”. Yet, the verdict was clear from McDermott, who’d watched that play over a dozen times in the locker room later: The Bills were wronged.

But because challenges are not permitted in overtime, the head coach could only call a timeout to seek clarification. The ruling stood, and the Broncos’ ensuing drive ended the season and McDermott’s time at the helm.

Owner Terry Pegula acknowledged McDermott’s nine-year run as “admirable” but said the organization believed a new leadership structure was necessary to move forward. The decision came less than 48 hours after Buffalo’s divisional-round exit and marked a clear organizational pivot. But there’s no denying that McDermott leaves as one of the most successful head coaches in franchise history.

His 98–50 regular-season record ranks second all-time for the Bills, behind only Marv Levy, and his teams reached the playoffs in eight of nine seasons. Buffalo advanced to the divisional round in six straight years and reached the AFC Championship Game twice, in the 2020 and 2024 seasons. Despite that consistency, McDermott finished 8–8 in the postseason and never reached the Super Bowl.

That absence ultimately defined his tenure. Buffalo repeatedly positioned itself as a contender but failed to convert its opportunities. The “13 seconds” loss in Kansas City, last season’s AFC Championship defeat, and the overtime loss in Denver each reinforced the same conclusion internally: the Bills were competitive every year, but not decisive in the moments that mattered most.

The decision to move on was shaped by timing as much as results. Josh Allen will turn 30 this offseason, and the organization remains conscious of how long he can sustain his physical style of play. While Allen remains elite, his passing production declined in 2025, and the offense continued to rely heavily on his individual creation. Defensively, Buffalo ranked seventh overall but struggled against the run and allowed 30 or more points in four playoff losses under McDermott.

As part of the transition, Pegula promoted Brandon Beane to president of football operations, placing him in charge of the coaching search. The expectation is that Buffalo will prioritize an offensive-minded head coach capable of maximizing Allen’s prime years.

Amid this, McDermott’s message may come across as calm and composed, but the atmosphere inside the Bills’ locker room tells a very different story.

Players lash out at the management for firing Sean McDermott

Even with eight playoff wins and near-annual contention, the team never reached the Super Bowl, raising doubts about their strategy formation. However, it seems like the players are not convinced of the call as their comments showcased immense rage.

“This s-it here is so stupid honestly, sickening. The best coach I’ve ever been around,” the team’s DT, Jordan Phllips noted.

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Phillips’ reaction comes amid a career that has exposed him to a wide range of coaching styles across the NFL. Drafted by the Miami Dolphins, he also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. However, his time with McDermott was exceptional. The DT has had three separate stints with the Bills, all of which came under Sean McDermott’s leadership.

While the latest decision has now separated the players from their favorite head coach, the latest developments are yet to be monitored.