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The Buffalo Bills\u2019 decision to fire coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons with the franchise stunned the league Monday, particularly those inside the Bills locker room.<\/p>\n
The decision came two days after the Bills once again failed to make the Super Bowl with MVP Josh Allen under center after a 33-30 loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round. The news was coupled by the announcement that general manager Brandon Beane was promoted to president of football operations and would lead the next coach search.<\/p>\n
Under McDermott, the Bills have reached six consecutive divisional rounds and advanced to the AFC Championship Game twice (in 2020 and 2024), losing both times to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. McDermott finished his Buffalo tenure with a regular-season record of 98-50 and a postseason record of 8-8. He is second all-time in franchise history in wins behind Marv Levy (112).<\/p>\n
\u201cThis s\u2014 here is so stupid honestly sickening,\u201d Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips said via an Instagram story. \u201cThe best coach I\u2019ve ever been around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Support for McDermott was echoed by locker room leaders DaQuan Jones, Shaq Lawson, Taron Johnson and Damar Hamlin<\/a>.<\/p>\n #Bills<\/a> Daquan Jones, Jordan Phillips, Shaq Lawson, and Taron Johnson all show support for Sean McDermott following the team parting ways.<\/p>\n Can see the locker room loved and respected him in so many ways.<\/p>\n No doubt McDermott will rebound somewhere else! #BillsMafia<\/a> @PayTheBillsPod<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/uME7pVbLpv<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Carson Hayek (@CarsonHayek) January 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cDon\u2019t make sense but ya got ya wanted,\u201d Jones said in an Instagram story.<\/p>\n Former franchise star LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 3,814 yards and 25 touchdowns in four seasons with the Bills, questioned the roster construction and subsequent retention of Beane. McCoy\u2019s final year in Buffalo, 2017, was McDermott\u2019s first as head coach of the team. The two also overlapped previously in Philadelphia, where McDermott was defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n Wait wait so the GM stays after all these non talented rosters and absolutely NO HELP for Josh on offense or defense lol only in THE NFL https:\/\/t.co\/fCYKhD9S0g<\/p>\n \u2014 LeSean Shady Mccoy (@CutonDime25) January 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Bills safety Maxwell Hairston, who just finished his rookie season, thanked McDermott on Instagram, writing: \u201cForever Grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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