On Monday morning, the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott. Despite being eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday after losing to the Denver Broncos 33-30 in overtime, their coach and quarterback, Josh Allen, are what kept them in the game. Still, many thought that if Buffalo failed to make the Super Bowl, changes would be made. That said, it sounds like the Bills players don’t agree wth the decision to fire McDermott.
What Bold Claim Did a Veteran Bills Defensive Tackle Make About the Firing of Sean McDermott?
Following the firing of McDermott, Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips took to Instagram to voice his displeasure with the move. He said, “This s**t here is so stupid honestly sickening. The best coach I’ve ever been around.”
Phillips’ comments likely reflect how many Bills players feel. After all, McDermott has been the ultimate leader in the nine seasons he’s been in Buffalo. In those seasons, McDermott is 98-50 in the regular season, but just 8-8 in the playoffs. Like John Harbaugh, who was fired as the Baltimore Ravens head coach, McDermott has been unable to reach the Super Bowl, even with an elite QB like Allen.
Phillips’ calling McDermott the best coach he has ever played for is very noteworthy. The veteran defensive tackle has played for four other franchises besides the Bills in his 11-year career. However, he has played for Buffalo on four separate occasions, so his endorsement of McDermott speaks volumes to the type of coach he is.
Having said that, the Bills now have a huge hole to fill at head coach. Current offensive coordinator Joe Brady and former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll have already been floated as potential replacements for McDermott. Both coaches make sense given their ties to Allen and the Bills organization.
I will NEVER take for granted what Sean McDermott did for this franchise.
106-58 Record
8 Playoff Appearances
5 AFC East Titles
Broke The Drought#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/qZTOs6vfcT— Buffalo Sports Talk (@BUFSportsTalk) January 19, 2026
Nevertheless, the Bills should definitely expand their search. Two names that come to mind immediately are Mike McDaniel and Mike Tomlin. McDaniel would be a great fit in Buffalo, given what he was able to do with Tua Tagovailoa and his limitations. As for Tomlin, it has been reported that he may never come back to coaching. However, with this opportunity now open, he may reconsider since he will have an elite quarterback and won’t be coaching in the AFC North anymore.
Monitoring how the Bills fill their head coaching vacancy will be interesting. One thing is certain: the next coach will need to capture players’ attention quickly.
