The Buffalo Bills’ decision to fire coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons with the franchise stunned the league Monday, particularly those inside the Bills locker room.
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.
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).
“This s— here is so stupid honestly sickening,” Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips said via an Instagram story. “The best coach I’ve ever been around.”
Support for McDermott was echoed by locker room leaders Dion Dawkins, DaQuan Jones, Shaq Lawson, Taron Johnson and Damar Hamlin.
True leader amongst a world full of alphas’s , Honored and Truly Best to learn under our Time. McDeezzyyyy You Are Truly One Of them Ones. 💔 Until The Grass Meets us Again #YouAlreadyShnow pic.twitter.com/GAMqreeilo
— Dion Dawkins (@DDawkins66) January 19, 2026
“Don’t make sense but ya got ya wanted,” Jones said in an Instagram story.
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’s final year in Buffalo, 2017, was McDermott’s first as head coach of the team. The two also overlapped previously in Philadelphia, where McDermott was defensive coordinator.
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
— LeSean Shady Mccoy (@CutonDime25) January 19, 2026
Bills safety Maxwell Hairston, who just finished his rookie season, thanked McDermott on Instagram, writing: “Forever Grateful.”
“A true leader of men,” Hamlin wrote. “Thank you for everything! On and beyond the field. We love you coach.”