Sean McDermott has paid an emotional tribute to Buffalo Bills fans as he finally spoke out following his firing on Monday morning.
The news came following Saturday’s gut-wrenching overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.
McDermott transformed the franchise into perennial playoff contenders in his nine years in charge but couldn’t get them to the Super Bowl.
This year looked to be promising with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs out of contention but the loss to the No. 1 seed Broncos proved to be the final straw.
Addressing the fans following the decision, McDermott said in a statement on Monday night: ‘For nearly a decade I have had the opportunity to wake up every morning as the Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills, which has truly been a gift.
‘I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Pegula family, the Buffalo Bills organization, and to the fans for allowing me to live out the dream of being a Head Coach in the NFL in this incredibly special place.
Sean McDermott paid an emotional tribute to Buffalo Bills fans following his firing on Monday
Josh Allen was left in tears after the Bills were eliminated from the playoffs by the Broncos
‘I am proud and humbled to have worked alongside amazing staff and players as we shared life together and poured out our hearts and souls into both winning football games and making a positive impact in our community.
‘This community graciously embraced not only me but my family and in some ways helped raise our children over the last 9 years. For that I say thank you to all of the teachers, coaches, and friends whom we met along the way…the City of Good Neighbors! We Love You! We will miss Buffalo.
‘Bills Mafia, you are one of one! It has been a joy and inspiration to witness your passion and commitment first hand. I always wanted our teams to play with the same level of toughness and grit that is true to Buffalo and that you demonstrate every day!
‘God gave me and my family an incredible opportunity, one that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Yet we know that HE has a plan. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your head coach.’
As well as firing McDermott, Bills owner Terry Pegula unveiled a new leadership structure in a bid to reach the promised land of the Super Bowl.
The new structure features general manager Brandon Beane being promoted to president of football operations. Beane will oversee his first coaching search since arriving in Buffalo five months after McDermott, who replaced Rex Ryan following two seasons in Buffalo.
Beane is expected to target an offensive-minded coach to spur an offense in which quarterback Josh Allen was too often asked to carry the burden.
McDermott turned the Bills into perennial playoff contenders but couldn’t reach the Super Bowl
Despite a seven-year playoff run and Allen setting many franchise passing and scoring records and earning AP NFL MVP honors last season, the Bills advanced no further than the AFC championship game, which they lost both times to Kansas City in the 2020 and ´24 seasons.
Buffalo became the league´s first team to win a playoff round in six consecutive years but not reach the Super Bowl.
The Bills went 12-5 in the regular season and had their five-year run atop the AFC East end, finishing second behind the New England Patriots.
McDermott´s firing is the latest in what´s become a seismic shift in the NFL´s coaching ranks this offseason. He became the 10th head coach to lose his job, joining a respected group that includes Baltimore´s John Harbaugh and Pittsburgh´s Mike Tomlin. Harbaugh has since been hired by the New York Giants.
