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The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott, team owner Terry Pegula confirmed Monday (January 19) morning.
"Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past 9 seasons," Pegula said via BuffaloBills.com. "But I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia."
"Sean helped change the mindset of this organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team. I respect all the work, loyalty and attention to detail he showed for this team and the community. I wish Sean, Jamie and his family all the best."
Pegula confirmed that general manager Brandon Beane will not only be retained and lead the search for McDermott's replacement, but will also "now serve as the President of Football Operations/General Manager of the Buffalo Bills."
McDermott was hired by the Bills in 2017 and the team has been a perennial contender for the majority of his tenure, making the playoffs eight times in nine seasons and winning the AFC East Division title five consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2024. Buffalo hasn't, however, made a Super Bowl appearance in that span, losing twice in the AFC Championship Game, four times in the AFC Divisional Game and twice in the AFC Wild Card Game.
The Bills finished the 2025 season second in the AFC East Division standings and sixth in the AFC, defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-24, before a 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos this past weekend.
Many believed Buffalo faced its most open run to the Super Bowl with the absence of the Kansas City Chiefs, who eliminated the Bills four times during McDermott's tenure, prior to Saturday's loss.