The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott after their loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. The decision is a big surprise for everyone, but it was time for a change in Buffalo.
McDermott has failed to get the best out of Josh Allen and the Bills’ roster, and now it’s time for a new head coach to take charge. Here’s a look at his contract details:
Sean McDermott’s Contract Breakdown
Bills brought McDermott into the organization in 2017 alongside the hiring of a new general manager. Since then, he and Brandon Beane have provided long-term stability for the franchise. After multiple playoff runs through 2022, McDermott signed a contract extension that was set to keep him in Buffalo through the 2027 NFL season.
McDermott was earning roughly $8 million per year under that deal. However, with him getting fired early, the Bills will likely owe him close to $16 million.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed that general manager Brandon Beane was not fired, and he will lead the search for a new head coach.
#Bills GM Brandon Beane will remain and help lead the search for a new coach. https://t.co/3supsHYEYe
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2026
The Bills’ HC opening arguably becomes the best available job in the league immediately. Moreover, the news is pretty disappointing for John Harbaugh, who recently agreed to become the New York Giants’ head coach. Had he not agreed to that offer, there is a high chance Harbaugh could have replaced McDermott in Buffalo.
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McDermott finishes his career in Buffalo with a record of 98-50 in the regular season and 8-8 in the playoffs. The Bills made the playoffs in eight of their nine seasons under him, but it wasn’t enough to achieve their goal of winning the Super Bowl.
This year, the Bills had the best chance to win the Super Bowl with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow all missing the playoffs. However, they lost to the Broncos, and the team decided to make the change that many had speculated about.
.@AdamSchefter ran out of the room on Get Up to break the news that the Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott 😯 pic.twitter.com/sjpgVstkg1
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 19, 2026
According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, the Bills finished the season as the third-ranked unit in the league. However, McDermott is a defensive-minded head coach, and Buffalo was ranked #13 on PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric.
NFL insider Dianna Russini confirmed that the loss to the Broncos played a huge role in the Bills’ decision to move on from McDermott. “From recent conversations with people in the Bills’ organization, the sense I get is that it felt that there were opportunities to win Saturday in Denver, officiating or otherwise,” she wrote on X. “Leadership felt a change was necessary after coming up short of the Super Bowl yet again.”
Russini also confirmed that Brian Daboll is viewed as a candidate to become the Bills’ new head coach due to his relationship with Allen.
The Bills’ defense has let them down several times in the playoffs, and now the franchise is looking for a fresh start under a new head coach who can get the best out of both the offense and defense.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
