Overview
- Buffalo dismissed McDermott two days after the divisional-round overtime loss to Denver, finishing his tenure at 98-50 in the regular season and 8-8 in the playoffs without a Super Bowl appearance.
- Owner Terry Pegula kept Brandon Beane in place and promoted him to president of football operations, assigning him to lead the head-coach search.
- Several Bills players publicly questioned the decision, with veterans including Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson posting support for McDermott.
- Early candidate chatter centers on OC Joe Brady and former Bills OC Brian Daboll, with Davis Webb and Rams DC Chris Shula also mentioned as possibilities, and the opening described by reporter Tom Pelissero as the premier job on the market.
- ESPN reporting says Josh Allen had a degree of awareness of the plan and will influence the hire, while high-profile names such as Mike Tomlin are being discussed by commentators despite his stated 2026 hiatus and the Steelers’ reported retention of his rights.