NFL, American Football Herren, USA New York Jets at Buffalo Bills Jan 4, 2026 Orchard Park, New York, USA Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on before the game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Orchard Park Highmark Stadium New York USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxKoneznyx 20260104_hlf_bk3_023

Jun 18, 2026, 12:00 PM CUT

“I Was Broken”: Bills’ HC Shares Undisclosed Details About Sean McDermott’s Firing

The Buffalo Bills are currently underway with their mandatory minicamp with a new leader at the helm. For the 2026 season, offensive coordinator Joe Brady was promoted to the head coach position after Sean McDermott was shown the exit door.

In an exclusive sit-down with Matt Parino on Wednesday, Buffalo’s new head coach revealed more details that went behind-the-scenes after hearing about Sean McDermott’s firing in late January.

“I was broken, you know. I was broken for a guy I worked for,” said Brady on the Shout! A Buffalo Podcast. “I was broken for the rest of the coaching staff that is sitting there like, we’re all out of jobs right now, so there was a lot of emotion going on.”

NFL, American Football Herren, USA Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers Aug 17, 2024 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott left and quarterback Josh Allen 17 talk on the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh Acrisure Stadium Pennsylvania USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xCharlesxLeClairex 20240817_lbm_al8_002

Per Jackson Stone of Clutch Points, there was an uproar when the Bills selected their next head coach from their current staff instead of conducting a comprehensive external search.

With Brady coming in for the 2026 season, expectations are high from the new head coach, who hasn’t forgotten to credit McDermott for his run with the Bills.

“It also dawned on me that the only thing I won’t be is the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills,” added Brady on the podcast. “I’m only in Buffalo because of Sean and the opportunities he gave me.”

McDermott spoke with the NFL Network in April and backed his successor for the head coaching role.

“Joe is a very talented coach, he’s a very talented play caller,” said McDermott. “What I saw in Joe in the four seasons he was with you - he’s going to do a good job. I hope he knows I’m always here if he needs anything.”

Per Grey Papke of Larry Brown Sports, McDermott was fired by the Bills at the end of the 2025 season despite a 95-80 career record. While the players weren’t supportive of this decision, the front office made the call after the team lost in the Divisional round for the fourth time in five seasons.

McDermott turned down other full-time opportunities after he departed from the Bills’ camp. He was recently seen at the minicamp of another team.

Sean McDermott Spotted at an NFL Team’s Minicamp

The former Buffalo Bills’ head coach is making the most of his time to check out other minicamps. He was spotted at the New York Giants’ minicamp last week at the practice field with general manager Joe Schoen, per Grey Papke of Larry Brown Sports.

Papke added that McDermott and Schoen go a long way back. Schoen was the Bills’ assistant general manager from 2017 to 2021, which was also the first five seasons of McDermott as the head coach. He had also worked before with the Giants’ now head coach, John Harbaugh.

Myles Simmons of NBC Sports shared that while McDermott looks determined to take a year off from his coaching job, he remains the most sought-after head coach candidate for the next year.

Which team do you think Sean McDermott will coach next if he returns to the NFL?

Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi