There’s a new sheriff in Buffalo, and his name is Joe Brady. The former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator supplanted ex-head coach Sean McDermott, though team leader and quarterback Josh Allen is still dwelling on McDermott’s firing long after the former head coach’s exit.
Josh Allen Takes Blame for Sean McDermott’s Firing
NFL Senior Writer for The Athletic, Michael Silver, spoke to Allen, who revealed that “seven months have passed, but Allen told me he still harbors guilt for McDermott’s dismissal.”
Allen spoke to Silver about McDermott’s exit and said, “I think about that all the time. There are certain plays throughout the game — and that’s going to be every game — where you’re like, ‘I could have done more.’ And I always feel like I can do more.'”
McDermott had been a mainstay in Buffalo for nine years after serving as the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers’ run to Super Bowl 50.
In eight of those years, McDermott coached Allen and helped mold him from a raw, athletic prospect into the superstar who dominates opposing defenses.
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During his run in Buffalo, McDermott went 98-50 in the regular season and 8-8 in the playoffs, notably ending the Bills’ 17-year playoff drought during his initial season in 2017.
Before he arrived in Buffalo, they’d held just one record above .500 between 2010 and 2016, led by mediocre coaches including Chan Gailey, Doug Marrone, and Rex Ryan.
Once McDermott came to Buffalo, he completely changed the culture, bringing a renewed mental toughness while rebuilding the roster alongside general manager Brandon Beane.
What had seemed to be an extended retooling of the team accelerated when Allen’s development skyrocketed, making them a perennial playoff contender as soon as 2019.
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After further defensive upgrades and the addition of budding receiver Stefon Diggs, the Bills turned into Super Bowl contenders.
It looked like just a matter of time until they’d knock the door down.
The main issues blocking the door were fellow superstar quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow. From 2020 to 2024, the Bills suffered excruciating season-ending playoff losses, all to Mahomes and Burrow.
Allen largely put up superhero performances, though slight coaching errors would ultimately overshadow his efforts.
2025 was more of the same, with McDermott’s squad losing an overtime thriller to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round, despite Allen boasting an 80.3 PFN QB Impact Grade last season, ranking ninth in the league.
To sum it up, a head coach can only get so many tries at a Super Bowl with a legendary quarterback. At some point, someone else deserves a chance, regardless of the quarterback’s feelings.
Now, Brady has a chance to finish what McDermott couldn’t.
