ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Payments fired head coach Sean McDermott on Monday after one other season that failed to finish in a Tremendous Bowl look, however the crew did promote Brandon Beane to president of soccer operations.
“Sean has carried out an admirable job of main our soccer crew for the previous 9 seasons,” proprietor Terry Pegula mentioned in an announcement. “However I really feel we’re in want of a brand new construction inside our management to offer this group the perfect alternative to take our crew to the following degree. We owe that to our gamers and to Payments Mafia.”
The Payments misplaced 33-30 to the Denver Broncos in extra time of the AFC divisional spherical, marking one other 12 months of falling quick within the playoffs. It was the fourth time in 5 seasons that the Payments exited within the divisional spherical.
McDermott, 51, leaves Buffalo with a 98-50 document and an 8-8 mark within the postseason, together with two AFC championship losses to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2020, 2024 seasons). He gained 5 consecutive AFC East titles from 2020 to 2024, ending second at 12-5 behind the New England Patriots this season.
“Sean helped change the mindset of this group and was instrumental within the Payments turning into a perennial playoff crew,” Pegula mentioned in his assertion. “I respect all of the work, loyalty and a focus to element he confirmed for this crew and the neighborhood.”
McDermott issued his personal assertion to NFL Community on Monday, thanking the Payments’ group, its followers and the Pegula household.
“For practically a decade I’ve had the chance to get up each morning because the Head Coach of the Buffalo Payments, which has actually been a present,” McDermott mentioned. “… I’m proud and humbled to have labored alongside wonderful workers and gamers as we shared life collectively and poured out our hearts and souls into each profitable soccer video games and making a constructive impression in our neighborhood.”
McDermott may emerge as a head teaching candidate for different NFL groups that now have a gap. McDermott instructed his workers on Monday that he intends to proceed teaching, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Moreover the Payments, seven NFL groups at the moment have teaching vacancies: Miami, Tennessee, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Arizona and Cleveland.
Beane, who will stay in his function as common supervisor along with taking over elevated duties as president of soccer operations, will lead the crew’s seek for a brand new coach as Buffalo prepares to debut a brand new stadium subsequent season.
“Brandon will oversee all sides of our soccer operation,” Pegula mentioned. “… I’ve full religion in and have witnessed Brandon’s excellent management type and believe in his talents to guide our group.”
Beane was employed by the Payments simply months after McDermott in 2017.
The loss to the Broncos continued the Payments’ streak of not reaching the Tremendous Bowl since turning into the one crew in NFL historical past to lose 4 straight from 1990 to 1993. And it prolonged their document of probably the most wins in a seven-season span with out a Tremendous Bowl look, together with playoffs (91).
The change will result in reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen, 29, having a brand new coach for the primary time in his skilled profession. Allen goes into his ninth NFL season subsequent 12 months and has probably the most playoff wins (eight) and begins (15) by any quarterback with out a Tremendous Bowl begin within the Tremendous Bowl period.
The postgame locker room and information convention following Saturday’s loss was a extra emotional one than after the crew’s different current exits with Allen tearing up on the rostrum. McDermott pronounced he was defending each Buffalo and your complete group after a prolonged reply a few controversial name by the referees in extra time.
McDermott went 0-3 in postseason overtimes throughout his Payments profession.
McDermott’s 98-50 document within the common season marked the second-best profitable share and second-most wins within the league throughout that point (behind solely the Chiefs). He led the crew to interrupt a historic 18-year playoff drought in 2017.
Defensive tackles Jordan Phillips and DaQuan Jones confirmed their frustration at McDermott’s firing in Instagram story posts.
“This s— right here is so silly truthfully sickening,” Phillips posted. “The perfect coach I’ve ever been round.”
Posted Jones: “Do not make sense however ya bought what ya needed.”
McDermott has been a constant defender of Buffalo, typically talking up about what the western New York neighborhood means to him and the drive of building a tradition and bringing a Tremendous Bowl title to the world for the primary time.
“Payments Mafia, you might be one in every of one!” McDermott mentioned in his assertion. “It has been a pleasure and inspiration to witness your ardour and dedication first hand. I at all times needed our groups to play with the identical degree of toughness and grit that’s true to Buffalo and that you just display on daily basis! … Thanks for permitting me to function your head coach.”
Since 2019, the Payments have probably the most wins in a seven-season stretch with out a Tremendous Bowl look, together with playoffs. The Payments grew to become the fourth crew within the Tremendous Bowl period to win a playoff recreation in six straight seasons; the earlier three all gained Tremendous Bowls in these spans.
The Payments’ high precedence is profitable with Allen, who turns 30 in Could. He’s coming off a down 12 months, throwing for 25 touchdowns — his fewest since his second season in 2019 — and having been sacked a career-high 40 instances. He additionally ran for 14 touchdowns (second most of his profession).
The Payments had one of many league’s finest dashing offenses, led by James Cook dinner, who grew to become Buffalo’s first participant to win the NFL’s dashing title since O.J. Simpson in 1976. The operating scheme was designed by offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, who introduced his retirement Sunday.
McDermott led the Payments’ protection, which allowed the third-fewest factors per recreation (20.2) within the common season throughout his tenure. That quantity, nevertheless, jumped to twenty-eight.7 factors given up in street playoff video games, the place the Payments went 1-7 since 2017.
This 12 months’s unit, which ranked twelfth in defensive effectivity, ended up being the extra dependable facet of the ball late within the season, ending because the league’s main go protection (156.9 yards per recreation). That, nevertheless, was impacted by points that had been constant towards the run, because the Payments gave up 136.2 dashing yards per recreation (fifth most within the NFL).
Buffalo was McDermott’s first job as a head coach, employed after being the defensive coordinator for each the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles.
