With NFL teams working hard to be ready and build a championship-caliber roster, it all starts with the head guy at the top. The NFL has 32 teams, and with that comes the exclusive fraternity of being one of the 32 vitally important NFL head coaches. While each of the 32 head coaches has their own unique story, let’s take a look at the Buffalo Bills and their head coach.
Who Is the Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills?
Sean McDermott is Buffalo’s head coach. It’s his first job as a head coach in the NFL. He started his career as a graduate assistant at William & Mary in 1998 before moving to the NFL in 1999, which was the first of his 18 seasons as an assistant coach.
McDermott worked his way up from scouting coordinator to defensive coordinator in Philadelphia. He subsequently took the Panthers’ defensive coordinator job in 2011 after spending 12 seasons with the Eagles. McDermott headed to Buffalo after six seasons in Carolina to be the defensive coordinator.
His Carolina defense ranked in the top 10 for takeaways in all six seasons. In 2015, the Panthers went 15-1, and four defensive players earned All-Pro honors.
How Long Has Sean McDermott Been the Buffalo Head Coach?
McDermott has been the Bills head coach since 2017. He is the franchise’s eighth head coach since Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy retired after the 1997 season.
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McDermott is the sixth-longest-tenured head coach in the league.
Who Was the Head Coach Before McDermott?
Rex Ryan was the Bills head coach for two seasons before McDermott. Ryan was 15-16 leading Buffalo before he was fired with one game left in the 2016 season. Offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn served as the team’s interim coach for the last game. The highlight of Ryan’s time in Buffalo was a four-game winning streak in 2016.
What Is McDermott’s Record With the Bills?
McDermott is 62-35 in six seasons with the Bills. He has led the team to the playoffs five times. In his first season in 2017, he guided Buffalo to a 9-7 record and the team’s first playoff appearance since 1999. The Bills have won the last three AFC East titles, with McDermott finishing 4-5 in the postseason.
Has McDermott Ever Won a Super Bowl?
No. McDermott has never won a Super Bowl. He led the Bills to the 2020 AFC Championship Game, losing to the Chiefs.
McDermott lost two Super Bowls as an assistant coach: Super Bowl XXXIX with the Eagles and Super Bowl L with the Panthers.