The Buffalo Bills’ quest for an elusive Super Bowl championship ended last weekend with their loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC’s divisional round. The Bills have made deep playoff runs with MVP quarterback Josh Allen and his supporting cast over the last few years, but they’ve been unable to reach the NFL’s biggest stage.
Blame for Buffalo’s postseason mishaps can be attributed to a variety of sources, but the team made a controversial decision this week that has some wondering what the future will hold in western New York.
The Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott in a surprising move to kick of their 2026 offseason. The team is moving on from McDermott after nine seasons and eight playoff appearances, leaving one of the most intriguing job openings in the NFL ahead of the new season.
Bills Choose to Part Ways With McDermott
There will be no shortage of coaches who jump at the opportunity to coach a talented franchise player like Allen, but comments from the team’s owner about McDermott’s firing may cause them to second-guess that decision.
On Wednesday, Bills owner Terry Pegula went into detail about his decision to fire McDermott after the team’s playoff exit.
“My decision to bring in a new coach was based on the results of our game in Denver,” Pegula said, joined on stage by team general manager Brandon Beane. Pegula drew attention to the fact that Allen was visibly upset after yet another playoff loss.
Terry Pegula on the decision to fire Sean McDermott was an emptional one after he saw the pain in Josh Allen’s face after an OT loss in the playoffs
“My decision to bring in a new coach was based on the results of our game in Denver… We can do better and we will do better” pic.twitter.com/dEvCi2kqvZ
— Mike Catalana (@MikeCatalana) January 21, 2026
“I did not fire Coach [McDermott] based on a bad officiating decision. If I can take you into that locker room, I felt like we hit the proverbial playoff wall year after year — 13 seconds, missed field goal, the catch. So, I just sensed in that locker room, like, where do we go from here with what we have? And that was the basis for my decision.”
Pegula cited some of the heartbreaking losses the Bills have suffered in the playoffs in recent years, and noted that he felt the team plateaued in terms of playoff success under McDermott’s leadership. The team lost to the Broncos last week after a messy, turnover-filled game that saw missed opportunities and mental mistakes across the board.
Front Office Shakeup in Buffalo Before 2026 Season
Pegula also promoted Beane this week, elevating the general manager to the role of president of football operations – and the direct report for the team’s next head coach. Pegula defended his decision to promote Beane despite the team’s on-field struggles in the playoffs.
“You see teams in the league — I’m not going to mention team names — but they have a great year, good year, and the next year the success doesn’t continue,” the owner said.
“You don’t get in the playoffs seven straight years in this National Football League, where there are very few blowouts and dozens and dozens of close games every year. You don’t get there without having talent and a great organization, and Brandon and his staff have brought in, regularly, players.”
The Bills will search for a new head coach over the next few weeks, adding their role to the large list of vacancies around the league. Teams like the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans have been able to sign some of the most experienced and sought-after candidates, but Wednesday’s comments from Pegula may cause some potential head coaches to reconsider their interest in Buffalo.
