Bills Central

History shows Bills needed to move on from Sean McDermott

A bold move, but two pieces of context support the Bills' decision to move on from him.
Owen Klein|
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott watches from the sidelines during second-half action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 28, 2025.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott watches from the sidelines during second-half action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 28, 2025. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott on Monday morning, and while the arguments for keeping or dismissing him can be debated, there is historical evidence suggesting the move was the right one.

Two pieces of data strengthen the Bills' case for a new head coach, emphasizing the importance of a quick turnaround at the position and an immediate return on investment.

Coaches win Super Bowls early in their tenures

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McDermott spent nine seasons as the Bills' head coach, and over time, even a strong culture can grow stale when leadership remains unchanged for too long.

Of the 32 head coaches who have won at least one Super Bowl and were hired since the era began, only five captured their first Lombardi Trophy after their fifth season with a given team.

Those coaches were Chuck Noll (Steelers, sixth season, 1975), Andy Reid (Chiefs, seventh season, 2020), John Madden (Raiders, eighth season, 1977), Tom Landry (Cowboys, 12th season, 1972) and Bill Cowher (Steelers, 14th season, 2005).

The historical trend suggests that prolonged tenures without a championship can become counterproductive, and the Bills will now be searching for a coach capable of finally getting them over the hump.

Firing head coaches can lead to immediate Super Bowl success

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In some cases, firing a head coach can be the best possible move for an organization, as demonstrated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos.

Tony Dungy went 2-3 in the playoffs during his six seasons with Tampa Bay, while John Fox finished 3-4 in the postseason over four years in Denver, including a loss in the 2014 Super Bowl to the Seattle Seahawks.

Both coaches were replaced by Jon Gruden and Gary Kubiak, respectively, who went on to win Super Bowls in their first seasons with their new teams in 2003 and 2016. This success shows that postseason frustration can be corrected immediately with the right hire.

Whether McDermott's departure ultimately leads the Bills to their first Super Bowl appearance remains to be seen, but history suggests Buffalo is making the right move at the right time.

Sean McDermott
Nov 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on in the second quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Owen Klein
OWEN KLEIN

Owen Klein has covered football, basketball and baseball for Penn State athletics as a broadcaster on local radio, including producing Penn State’s 2024 men’s basketball Big Ten Tournament games and calling Penn State football’s Whiteout vs. Washington in November 2024. He has internships with the Buffalo Bisons and CBS affiliate WIVB in Buffalo, NY, in the summer of 2025. He is a Penn State University broadcast journalism student at the Bellisario College of Communications majoring in broadcast journalism and is passionate about college and professional sports, the Pokémon Video Game Championships and the Buffalo Bills.

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