While NFL coaches usually have a resume filled with spots that also include some time in college football, Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott is a little bit different.
McDermott will lead quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills into an AFC Divisional Round playoff game on Saturday against quarterback Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. Buffalo will be playing on the road, so the Bills can expect Empower Field at Mile High to be rocking with Broncos fans.
Where Did Bills HC Sean McDermott Coach In College?
Yet McDermott does have a little college football experience to his name.
Before getting to his college coaching time, it’s also essential to include William and Mary in McDermott’s story. That’s where McDermott played college football. He was a safety for the team between 1994 and 1997, picking up all-Yankee Conference and Atlantic 10 Conference academic honors.
In 1997, McDermott graduated from William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree in finance.
Then, in 1998, McDermott got his first taste of coaching as a graduate assistant. But that’s where his college football coaching time comes to an end. For McDermott, his next stop was into the NFL ranks.
At the ripe young age of 25, McDermott started working under then-Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid in 1999 as a scouting coordinator for two seasons. McDermott then held roles as an assistant to the head coach, defensive quality control coach, assistant defensive backs coach, secondary coach, and linebackers coach.
Then, in 2009, at 35, McDermott became Reid’s defensive coordinator. But his time with the Eagles came to an end in 2011, when McDermott became the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers under then-head coach Ron Rivera. McDermott stayed with the Panthers for six seasons.
In 2017, McDermott was hired as the Bills’ head coach, a position he’s held for 9 seasons. He’s put together a 98-50 coaching record and a 66.2% winning percentage while in Buffalo. McDermott has a 15-8 NFL playoff record with Buffalo, for a 53.3% winning percentage.
Ironically, McDermott has reached the Super Bowl twice, although not as a head coach. When he was with the Eagles, they reached the Super Bowl but lost to the New England Patriots. With the Panthers, Carolina also made it to the Super Bowl but lost to… guess who?… The Broncos.
McDermott has his thoughts squarely on what he wants to see the Bills do against Denver on Saturday. But there might be a little taste of revenge for him against the Denver franchise.
