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Alaina Getzenberg
Shawn McDermott’s tenure buffalo bill‘ The tenure of the head coach ended on Monday His time with the team included a historic playoff streak and a complete change in the culture of the organization.
McDermott, who spent nine years leading the Bills, had the second-most wins (98-50) of any franchise since 2017. He led Buffalo to the playoffs in eight seasons, reaching the AFC Championship Game twice, but missed a Super Bowl appearance.
To take the next step with the 2024 MVP quarterback josh allen And to find a path to the franchise’s elusive first Super Bowl title, the Bills will have to find a new coach, and that responsibility will fall on general manager Brandon Beane. Bills owner Terry Pegula announced Monday that Beane has been retained and promoted to president of football operations, giving him increased responsibilities including overseeing the coaching search.
So how did the Bills get here – firing McDermott and promoting Beane two days later 33-30 divisional round loss till denver broncos — and what does it mean?
Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg, senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler and NFL analyst Ben Solak answered all the important questions in light of Monday’s news that the Bills are moving in a new direction.
Why was Sean McDermott fired? Was the defeat in Denver a major reason for this decision?
He did not complete the work. Results In business, McDermott was incredibly successful, winning 10 or more games in seven consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the NFL. The Bills are one of six teams in the Super Bowl era with such a long streak.
Firing comes to McDermott was not Do, but perhaps more importantly, Pegula’s apparent decision to go along with Beane’s vision to move the team forward and the general manager’s victory in gaining the owner’s confidence in building a vision for the future. Beane and McDermott were unable to accomplish their joint goal of leading the team’s football team to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl or reach the big game. Instead, the Bills are the only one of the six teams that has not made multiple Super Bowl appearances during those stretches. Buffalo’s previous three playoff losses were by three points.
Moving on from McDermott wasn’t a one-game or one-season decision. This is a coach who has come to epitomize Western New York and become one of its staunchest supporters. He created a culture that many loved and many players joined (or returned) to Buffalo to play for McDermott, as seen in the shocked and disappointed reactions to his dismissal.
Pegula made clear in his statement that he believed the organizational structure was not the most effective and that giving control of the entire football operation to just one person – Beane – was the best move to reach a Super Bowl title. — getzenberg
Does it immediately become the best job available? And should John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski regret taking the job in the first place?
While the Bills job is extremely attractive for MVP-related reasons, I’m not convinced it’s so obviously better than other options. The new head coach will enter Buffalo with high expectations, as the outgoing coach made the playoffs seven consecutive times, including six consecutive divisional round appearances. There’s no demolition and rebuilding on the horizon in Buffalo, no one-year grace period. The next head coach needs to hit the ground running and win in January Immediately.
That said, I imagine both Harbaugh and Stefanski would have long considered this Bills job – especially Stefanski, as he hasn’t coached an elite quarterback like Allen before, and that pair could have had offensive success together. I’d bet the Bills will get the job done quickly because of Allen’s charm, but it sounds like a honeytrap to me. –Solak
Which candidates matter for Buffalo?
This is a primo job that will attract many strong candidates. It’s not a perfect job – there are some flaws on the roster and expectations will be very high – but the chance to coach Allen and get the best out of him would be a serious draw. Some former Buffalo offensive coordinators – including in-house options Joe Brady and former Giants head coach Brian Daboll – may get a look. Daboll, in particular, has roots in Western New York and a longstanding relationship with Allen.
But it’s also a chance for the Bills to reinvent themselves in a new image with a young coach. Los Angeles Rams Defensive coordinator Chris Shula, los angeles chargers Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak There are interesting options that are still on the board.
A trio of young offensive coaches– jacksonville jaguars offensive coordinator grant udinskyRams pass-game coordinator Nate Scheilhaase and Broncos pass-game coordinator Davis Webb – Also worth interviewing. — Fowler
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Dan Orlowski and Rex Ryan share who they believe is the best replacement for Sean McDermott in Buffalo.
Why did the Bills retain GM Brandon Beane and is he on the hot seat next year?
With Buffalo showing long-term confidence in Beane, not only is he given more responsibilities, but the move reflects Pegula’s confidence in his abilities and the organization’s vision. Beane’s promotion will also mean that if the team falls short again, more attention will be paid to the work he is doing as he now has complete control.
This is a change as McDermott previously reported directly to Pegula. The 49-year-old Beane now has full control of the football side of the team, which is a sign he will have more time to make whatever changes he sees fit with the new coach.
The general manager has come under a lot of criticism due to the strength of the weapons surrounding Allen and not living up to expectations with the recent addition of several first and second day draft picks and free agency.
Bean also reported directly to Pegula and was able to build his trust and relationship with the owner so strong that the owner felt he was the perfect person to guide the team forward. — Getzenberg
What are Buffalo’s big offseason decisions?
Wide receiver is the main consideration. There are some major question marks in the status group Around this time with the 33rd overall pick Keon Coleman A roster decline in his second season, and free agency additions, such as joshua palmer And curtis samuelNot working. Fixing that group will be one of Beane’s biggest tasks.
There are also several positions in free agency flux, especially along both lines. starting center Connor McGovern and left the guard david edwards Are set to become free agents, which would already be a huge loss for the group. Pass rusher is also an area that needs work joey bossa And AJ Epenesa are free agents, and finding a consistent strong presence on the spot has been an issue for this team.
The real challenge is to rebuild the roster once again under a new head coach – one who can make the team immediately competitive with the 30-year-old Allen at quarterback. — getzenberg
Where might McDermott end up, and is he at the top of the list of available HC candidates?
McDermott’s presence will force some key offices to rethink their plans. Tennessee comes to mind.
The Titans have their sights set on finalists Matt Nagy, Robert Saleh and Jeff Hafley. Do they include McDermott? This is at least worth a question. He has instant credibility. Even if Tennessee and Miami (along with Hafley) stick with their current pursuits, McDermott has five opportunities to move on – Raiders, Browns, Steelers, Ravens and Cardinals.
Those first two are not a natural fit at this level. Both teams are rebuilding and are in position to take swings with outside-the-box rentals. McDermott’s coaching style will fit seamlessly into the AFC North. Baltimore, which isn’t shying away from a retread model in its pursuit, seems like a better option than Pittsburgh. Arizona falls somewhere in the middle but is hardly a destination in action at this point.
So, yes, McDermott is the most decorated candidate now, but a lot will depend on the team’s current trajectory and priorities. — Fowler
