Sean McDermott
refer to caption
McDermott with the Bills in 2019
Buffalo Bills
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1974-03-21) March 21, 1974
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Career information
High school:La Salle College
(Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania)
College:William & Mary (1993–1997)
Career history
As a coach:
  • William & Mary (1998)
    Graduate assistant
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2001)
    Assistant to head coach
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2002–2003)
    Defensive assistant & quality control
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2004–2006)
    Assistant defensive backs coach
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2007)
    Defensive backs coach
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2008)
    Linebackers coach
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2009–2010)
    Defensive coordinator & defensive backs coach
  • Carolina Panthers (2011–2016)
    Defensive coordinator
  • Buffalo Bills (2017–present)
    Head coach
As an executive:
  • Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2000)
    Scouting administrative coordinator
Head coaching record
Regular season:73–41 (.640)
Postseason:4–5 (.444)
Career:77–46 (.626)
Coaching stats at PFR

Sean Michael McDermott (born March 21, 1974) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He began his NFL coaching career as an assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001, serving as defensive coordinator from 2009 to 2010, and was later the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2016. Following his six seasons with the Panthers, which included a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl 50, he was hired in 2017 as the Bills head coach and assumed defensive coordinator duties in 2023.

McDermott's head coaching tenure in Buffalo has seen improved fortunes for the franchise, which had been mostly unsuccessful during the 2000s and 2010s. In his first season, he led the Bills to their first playoff appearance since 1999, ending the longest active postseason drought in the four major North American sports. During the 2020 season, McDermott helped the Bills clinch their division and win a playoff game for the first time since 1995, en route to their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 1993. He led the Bills to a consecutive division title the following season, the franchise's first since 1991. The Bills then clinched their third and fourth straight division titles in the two years after, marking 4 straight years atop the AFC East as of the 2023-2024 season.

Early years

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, McDermott grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. His family lived in West Chester and Paoli before settling in Lansdale when McDermott was in second grade.[1] McDermott first attended North Penn High School before transferring to La Salle College High School, where he was named All-Southeastern Pennsylvania at defensive back in 1992 and graduated in 1993.[1] He was also a national prep champion wrestler in 1992 and 1993. He received a bachelor's degree in finance while at the College of William and Mary, where he was an all-conference safety (1997). He was teammates with future Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who was a wide receiver and faced McDermott frequently.[2] He also received Academic all-conference honors in 1996 and 1997 and NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-America accolades.

Coaching career

Philadelphia Eagles

McDermott originally joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999 as a scouting administrative coordinator, a position he held until being promoted to Andy Reid's coaching staff in 2001.[3] He became defensive quality control coach and later assistant defensive backs coach. In 2003, he replaced Steve Spagnuolo as defensive backs coach, as Spagnuolo was assigned linebackers coach.[4] In 2004, McDermott saw both of his starting safeties (Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis) earn Pro Bowl berths for the first time in team history. McDermott and the Eagles appeared in Super Bowl XXXIX that season but lost to the New England Patriots, who won their second straight Super Bowl title.[5] Under McDermott's watch, Dawkins went on to earn two more Pro Bowl berths following the 2005 and 2006 seasons.[6]

In 2007, McDermott was assigned linebackers coach, after Spagnuolo had left to take the defensive coordinator job for the New York Giants. On January 28, 2008, Eagles head coach Andy Reid named McDermott as the secondary coach again.[7]

On May 18, 2009, McDermott was named the interim defensive coordinator as a result of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's medical leave of absence. On July 24, of that same year, due to the continuing decline of Johnson, the Eagles announced McDermott would take over as full-time defensive coordinator.[8][9][10] Johnson died four days later. Thanks in part to what he learned under Johnson, McDermott would go on to implement a variety of blitzes in his later defensive gameplans.[11]

McDermott was fired as the defensive coordinator on January 15, 2011, after 12 years with the Eagles.[12]

Carolina Panthers

McDermott was hired as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers on January 17, 2011.[13] McDermott was reunited with new Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, a former Eagles assistant whom McDermott served alongside from 1999 to 2003.[14] McDermott was Pro Football Focus's second runner up to their Defensive Coordinator of the Year award in 2015.[15]

As the Panthers' defensive coordinator, McDermott led the team to finishes in the top ten in overall defense from 2012 to 2015.[16][17][18][19]

In the 2015 season, McDermott and the Panthers reached Super Bowl 50, which was played on February 7, 2016. His defense only gave up one offensive touchdown in the game, but the Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[20]

Buffalo Bills

On January 11, 2017, McDermott was hired by the Buffalo Bills as the 19th head coach in franchise history.[21][22][23][24]

On September 10, 2017, McDermott won his NFL head coaching debut in the season opening 21–12 victory over the New York Jets, becoming just the third Bills head coach to win his first game with the team after Marv Levy and Rex Ryan.[25][26]

Just after a Week 2 loss to the Carolina Panthers, also McDermott's first return to Charlotte since leaving the Panthers organization, McDermott would lead the Bills to 4 wins in the next 5 games, including a win against the reigning NFC champion Atlanta Falcons. However, they lost the next two games, including a 47–10 loss to the New Orleans Saints, which prompted him to make the controversial decision to bench starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor in favor of rookie backup Nathan Peterman. Peterman played poorly against the Los Angeles Chargers in his first career start, throwing 5 interceptions in the first half. He was benched for Taylor during the second half of the 54–24 loss, which dropped the Bills to 5–5.[27]

Despite the string of losses, the Bills then went on a 4–2 run to finish the season at 9–7, clinching the AFC's 6th seed and their first playoff appearance in 18 years, thus ending both the NFL's and the North American professional sports franchise's longest active playoff droughts during McDermott's first year as head coach.[28] The Bills would go on to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars 10–3 in the AFC wild card game.[29]

The following season, McDermott's Bills finished 6–10 and missed the playoffs, but had a strong finish to the season after a 2–7 start. After suffering blowout losses in four of the first nine games, partly caused by a lack of offensive talent,[30] the Bills adjusted their roster, allowing them to stay competitive in each of the last seven games. Buffalo's defense improved in 2018.[31]

McDermott was nominated for NFL Head Coach of the Year for the 2019 season after leading the Bills to a 10–6 record, receiving their second playoff berth in three seasons as the AFC's #5 seed. The Bills would lose 22–19 to the Houston Texans in overtime during the Wild Card Round.[32]

On August 12, 2020, McDermott signed a contract extension through 2025.[33]

The 2020 season marked many instances of growth and success for McDermott and the Bills. Quarterback Josh Allen developed dramatically, turning into an MVP candidate and leading the Bills to their first AFC East Division Title since 1995, as well as a 13–3 record, tied for second best in the league with the Green Bay Packers and behind the Kansas City Chiefs.[34] They also tied a franchise record for wins previously set in 1990 and 1991. After winning their first division title since 1995, they won their first playoff game in 25 years with a win against the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round, before defeating the Baltimore Ravens 17–3 for a trip to their first AFC Championship Game in 27 years.[35]

In the AFC Championship, the Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 38–24, ending their 2020 season, and ending the Bills' hopes of returning to the Super Bowl for the first time in 27 years.[36] McDermott was questioned by fans and analysts for his play calling, with criticism specifically aimed at his decision making in regards to attempting field goals instead of touchdowns on a pair of fourth and goal situations. The Bills finished their 2020 season with a cumulative record of 15–4.[37]

Prior to the 2021 season, the Bills increased protection for Allen by drafting offensive tackle Spencer Brown from Northern Iowa. After losing the season opener verus Pittsburgh 23–16, the Bills went on a four–game winning streak, including a 35–0 shutout against Miami and a 40–0 shutout over Houston. The Bills had a record of 5–1 within the division, with the sole loss to New England having taken place during particularly poor weather—wind gusts nearby were measured at over 55 miles per hour. Overall, the Bills would finish 11–6. In the AFC Wild Card game, they beat the Patriots 47–17 in a 'perfect' offensive performance, with each Buffalo possession ending in either a touchdown or kneeling to end the period. There was much anticipation going into the next round, as they would be once again be facing the Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes. In what has been regarded as the best game of the 2021–22 season, a high-scoring shootout between Allen and Mahomes reached its climax in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, where a combined 25 points were scored. The Bills had emerged from the fracas with 13 seconds left in regulation and a 36–33 lead. However, Buffalo's defense would not hold, and Kansas City was able to score a field goal to tie the game up 36–36 as time expired. The Chiefs then won the coin toss for possession to begin overtime, and ultimately scored a touchdown on the resulting drive to win the game 42–36.[38] After the season, partially in reaction to this result—given Buffalo's offense was not given a chance to participate in the overtime period—the NFL changed their postseason rules to guarantee both teams a possession of the ball, even if the opening drive results in a touchdown.[39]

In the 2022 season, McDermott led the Bills to a 13–3 record and a first-place finish in the AFC East.[40] The Bills did not play 17 games in 2022 due to the Damar Hamlin incident in Week 17, which McDermott got praise for helping cancel.[41][42] The Bills won the Wild Card Round against the Miami Dolphins 34–31.[43] The Bills' season ended in the Divisional Round with a 27–10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.[44] Following Leslie Frazier's resignation in February 2023, McDermott assumed play-calling duties on defense for the 2023 season.[45] On June 23, 2023, the Bills announced McDermott's contract had been extended through the 2027 season.

McDermott is already second on the Bills' all-time wins list, behind only Marv Levy.

Controversial comments on the 9/11 terrorist attacks

In December 2023, independent journalist Tyler Dunne published an exploratory article into McDermott's time as head coach of the Bills, with multiple critiques from Bills players and Dunne himself. In it, Dunne reported that during a 2019 team meeting, McDermott told the team they needed to work together like "the terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001," whom he cited as a group of people who worked perfectly to orchestrate their plan and began asking questions to the team about the terrorists' tactics.[46] Players reportedly were unsure how to answer McDermott, with one jokingly saying TSA was the biggest difficulty to their plan when he was asked a question about it.

McDermott was widely criticized in the sports media and on social media sites, with some questioning his leadership ability and calling for McDermott to be fired.[47] When asked about it on the day of the article's release, he stated that he "regretted it and apologized to the team soon after for not better communicating [his] point", instead saying he was only using the attack to "emphasize the importance of communication."[48]

Head coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
BUF2017 970.5632nd in AFC East01.000Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars in AFC Wild Card Game
BUF2018 6100.3753rd in AFC East————
BUF2019 1060.6252nd in AFC East01.000Lost to Houston Texans in AFC Wild Card Game
BUF2020 1330.8131st in AFC East21.667Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC Championship Game
BUF2021 1160.6471st in AFC East11.500Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC Divisional Game
BUF2022 1330.8131st in AFC East11.500Lost to Cincinnati Bengals in AFC Divisional Game
BUF2023 1160.6471st in AFC East00–TBD
Total73410.64045.444

Personal life

McDermott and his wife have two children.[49] He is a devout Christian and has been outspoken on his faith.[50][51]

In 2021, McDermott revealed that he has been treated for skin cancer "several times" since at least 2017.[52]

References

  1. 1 2 Cabrey, Mike (August 10, 2009). "McDermott proud of local roots". Daily Local News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  2. ↑ DiLoro, Justin (December 15, 2019). "Sean McDermott to face former college teammate Mike Tomlin". Bills Wire. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ Fairburn, Matthew (January 23, 2021). "Sean McDermott's rise from Andy Reid's staff to Bills leader". The Athletic. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  4. ↑ Fedotin, Jeff (January 21, 2022). "The Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid Shares Long History With Sean McDermott". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Super Bowl XXXIX – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots – February 6th, 2005". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Brian Dawkins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  7. ↑ Grotz, Bob (January 28, 2008). "Eagles shake up coaching staff; hire McDermott to replace Harbaugh as secondary coach". Delco Times. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Eagles introduce McDermott to succeed coordinator Johnson". NFL.com. Associated Press. July 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  9. ↑ Stamm, Dan (July 24, 2009). "Eagles Name McDermott to Officially Lead the D". NBC10 Philadelphia. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  10. ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (July 24, 2009). "Eagles to name McDermott defensive coordinator". ProFootballTalk. Archived from the original on April 13, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  11. ↑ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (October 24, 2019). "Bills' Sean McDermott recalls Jim Johnson, Eagles days fondly". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ La Canfora, Jason (January 15, 2011). "Eagles fire defensive coordinator McDermott". NFL.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  13. ↑ Strickland, Bryan (January 19, 2011). "McDermott named defensive coordinator". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  14. ↑ Weyrich, Matt (September 20, 2021). "McDermott's respect for Rivera has 'grown exponentially' as a head coach". RSN. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  15. ↑ Hornsby, Neil (January 20, 2016). "Pro Football Focus' 2015 NFL Positional Coaches of the Year". Pro Football Focus. Archived from the original on June 4, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  16. ↑ "2012 Carolina Panthers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  17. ↑ "2013 Carolina Panthers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  18. ↑ "2014 Carolina Panthers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  19. ↑ "2015 Carolina Panthers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Super Bowl 50 – Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers – February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  21. ↑ Breech, John (January 11, 2017). "Bills tap Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott as next head coach". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  22. ↑ Rodak, Mike (January 11, 2017). "Bills turn to McDermott to end playoff drought". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Bills hire Sean McDermott as head coach". RSN. January 11, 2017. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Sean McDermott hired as Buffalo Bills' new head coach". NFL.com. January 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  25. ↑ "New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  26. ↑ Zadonowicz, Dylan (September 13, 2017). "Sean McDermott won his first game as Buffalo Bills head coach". Buffalo Rumblings. SBNation. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  27. ↑ Sessler, Mark (November 19, 2017). "Bills bench Peterman for Tyrod Taylor after 5-INT Half". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  28. ↑ Rodak, Mike (January 1, 2018). "Bills end drought, secure wild-card spot after Bengals beat Ravens". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Wild Card – Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars – January 7th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  30. ↑ Schatz, Aaron (October 24, 2018). "Worst. Offense. Ever? Bills are on pace for dubious mark". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  31. ↑ Silagyi, Kyle (January 2, 2019). "Bills Today: Micah Hyde not satisfied with No. 2 ranked defense". www.buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Wild Card – Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans – January 4th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  33. ↑ Lavoie, Dan (August 12, 2020). "Buffalo Bills sign Sean McDermott to a multi-year contract extension". buffalorumblings.com. Vox Media, LLC. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  34. ↑ "2020 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  35. ↑ Reiss, Mike (January 16, 2021). "Buffalo Bills beat Baltimore Ravens, advance to first AFC Championship Game since 1993 season". ESPN.com. ESPN, LLC. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  36. ↑ "AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs - January 24th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  37. ↑ "2020 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Divisional Round - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs - January 23rd, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  39. ↑ Jones, Jonathan (January 29, 2023). "2023 NFL playoffs: New postseason overtime rules means it is better to give than receive". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  40. ↑ "2022 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  41. ↑ Florio, Mike (January 5, 2023). "NFL won't resume Bills-Bengals game". ProFootballTalk. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  42. ↑ Glab, Maddy (January 6, 2003). "Sean McDermott earns high praise for his leadership amid unprecedented circumstances". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Wild Card - Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Divisional Round - Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills - January 22nd, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  45. ↑ Hamm, Timm. "Bills' Sean McDermott Ready to Lead Buffalo's Defense: 'It Feels Natural'". si.com. The Arena Group. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  46. ↑ "During 2021 team meeting, Sean McDermott cited 9/11 attacks as example of teamwork". NBC Sports. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Feature criticizes Sean McDermott's leadership, says he made a strange 9/11 reference". Bills Wire. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  48. ↑ "McDermott's apology". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  49. ↑ Fitzgerald, Katherine (June 19, 2022). "Coach, dad, husband, brother. How Bills' Sean McDermott tries to find work-life balance". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  50. ↑ Claybourn, Cole (January 6, 2023). "Bills coach Sean McDermott on Damar Hamlin's improvement: 'Glory to God'". Sports Spectrum. Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023. 'I'm a Christian man to begin with, and I'm not afraid to say that,' he [McDermott] said in Thursday's press conference.
  51. ↑ Graham, Tim (September 1, 2017). "Sean McDermott Files: And if you don't know, now you know". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  52. ↑ McDermott, Sean; Pawlowski, A. "NFL coach shares skin cancer warning: 'I should have worn sunblock'". Today.com. NBC News. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
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