With the Tuesday morning firing of New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, the NFL’s coaching carousel is officially in motion, and speculation is growing about who might be next to face the heat.
Among the names being tossed around – Nick Sirianni in Philadelphia, Brian Daboll in New York, Doug Pederson in Jacksonville – there’s one that may surprise some: Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
McDermott, now in his eighth season, is the second-winningest coach in Bills history.
He has led the team to four straight AFC East titles and six playoff appearances in seven full seasons. However, despite these regular-season achievements, some believe that his lack of postseason success has already put him on the hot seat.
The growing frustrations were only magnified by Buffalo’s stunning 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. As everyone knows, McDermott’s horrific game management at the end of regulation played an enormous part in the defeat.
ESPN NFL insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler spoke about McDermott’s shaky future in Buffalo.
“Is it time to start talking about Sean McDermott after Buffalo’s Week 5 debacle in Houston, Dan?” Fowler asked. “I got multiple texts from people involved in the hiring cycle asking whether McDermott would be on the hot seat. I replied that I hadn’t sensed that, but Sunday’s ending was simply not good.”
“Yessir, the texts are certainly flying on that one,” Graziano responded. “The Buffalo job is definitely the early leader for ‘Job that potential head coach candidates and their agents hope comes open.’ I have heard many on the outside speculate McDermott could be in trouble if the Bills keep failing to reach the Super Bowl, but I have never once heard from inside the Bills organization that moving on from him has ever been a consideration.”
McDermott is currently the fourth-longest-tenured head coach, behind only Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, and Andy Reid – each of whom has a Super Bowl victory on their resume.
Still, the NFL is an unforgiving environment. Even coaches with recent success aren’t safe, as the potential firing of Nick Sirianni in Philadelphia shows.
Despite leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance two seasons ago, there’s speculation that he could be fired at the end of the season. Same goes for Mike McCarthy in Dallas.
When it comes to McDermott, opinions are divided.
Some argue that his leadership has been crucial in stabilizing a franchise that struggled for consistency for decades. Others feel that he may be the one holding the team back from reaching its true potential.
One thing is clear, the Bills are too talented to have not sniffed a Super Bowl, let alone win one. Josh Allen is an All-World talent. Buffalo knows they can’t keep on wasting his prime years.
What are your thoughts on McDermott? … Do you think he is indeed on the hot seat? … Should he be fired if the Bills fail to reach at least the AFC Championship Game? (Perhaps even the Super Bowl???)
