Sean McDermott

Sean Michael McDermott (born March 21, 1974) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He began his NFL coaching career as an assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001, serving as defensive coordinator from 2009 to 2010, and was also the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2016. Following his six seasons with the Panthers, which included a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl 50, he was hired as the Bills' head coach in 2017.

For other people named Sean McDermott, see Sean McDermott (disambiguation).
Sean McDermott
McDermott in 2019
Buffalo Bills
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1974-03-21) March 21, 1974
Omaha, Nebraska
Career information
High school:La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania)
College:William & Mary
Career history
As coach:
As executive:
  • Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2000)
    Scouting administrative coordinator
Career highlights and awards
Head coaching record
Regular season:38–26 (.594)
Postseason:2–3 (.400)
Career:40–29 (.580)
Coaching stats at PFR

McDermott's head coaching tenure in Buffalo has seen improved fortunes for the franchise, who had been mostly unsuccessful during the 2000s/2010s. In his first season, he led the Bills to their first playoff appearance since 1999, ending the then-longest postseason drought in the four major North American sports. During the 2020 season, McDermott helped the Bills clinch the AFC East and win a playoff game for the first time since 1995.

Early years

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, McDermott later grew up in Pennsylvania. His family lived in West Chester and Paoli before settling in Lansdale when McDermott was in second grade.[1] McDermott first attended North Penn High School before transferring to La Salle College High School, where he was named All-Southeastern Pennsylvania at defensive back in 1992 and graduated in 1993.[1] He was also a national prep champion wrestler in 1992 and 1993. He received a bachelor's degree in finance while at the College of William and Mary, where he was an all-conference safety (1997). He was teammates with Mike Tomlin, who was a wide receiver and faced McDermott constantly.[2] He also received Academic all-conference honors in 1996 and 1997 and NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-America accolades.

Coaching career

Philadelphia Eagles

McDermott originally joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998 as a scouting administrative coordinator, a position he held until being promoted to assistant to the head coach in 1999. He then became defensive quality control coach and later assistant defensive backs coach. In 2003, he replaced Steve Spagnuolo as defensive backs coach, as Spagnuolo was assigned linebackers coach. In 2004, McDermott saw both of his starting safeties (Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis) earn Pro Bowl berths for the first time in team history. McDermott and the Eagles appeared in Super Bowl XXXIX that season but lost to the New England Patriots, who won their 2nd straight Super Bowl title. Under McDermott's watch, Dawkins went on to earn two more Pro Bowl berths following the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

In 2007, McDermott was assigned linebackers coach, after Spagnuolo had left to take the defensive coordinator job for the New York Giants. On January 28, 2008, Eagles head coach Andy Reid named McDermott as the secondary coach again.

On May 18, 2009, McDermott was named the interim defensive coordinator as a result of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's medical leave of absence. On July 24, of that same year, due to the continuing decline of Johnson, the Eagles announced McDermott would take over as full-time defensive coordinator.[3] Johnson died four days later. McDermott implemented a variety of blitzes in his defense, thanks in part to his mentor, former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.

McDermott was fired as the defensive coordinator on January 15, 2011.[4]

Carolina Panthers

McDermott was hired as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers on January 17, 2011. He was Pro Football Focus's second runner up to their Defensive Coordinator of the Year award in 2015.[5]

As the Panthers' defensive coordinator, McDermott led the team to finishes in the top ten in overall defense from 2012–2015.

In the 2015 season, McDermott and the Panthers reached Super Bowl 50, which was played on February 7, 2016. His defense only gave up one offensive touchdown in the game, but the Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[6]

Buffalo Bills

On January 11, 2017, McDermott was hired by the Buffalo Bills as the 19th head coach in franchise history.[7]

On September 10, 2017, McDermott won his NFL head coaching debut in the season opening 21–12 victory over the New York Jets, becoming just the third Bills head coach to win his first game with the team after Marv Levy and Rex Ryan.[8][9]

After Buffalo lost in Week 2 to the Carolina Panthers, McDermott led the Bills to 4 more wins in the next 5 games, including a win against the reigning NFC champion Atlanta Falcons. However, they lost the next two games, including a 47–10 loss to the New Orleans Saints, which prompted him to make the controversial decision to bench starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor in favor of rookie backup Nathan Peterman. Peterman played poorly against the Los Angeles Chargers in his first career start, throwing 5 interceptions in the first half. He was benched for Taylor during the second half of the 54–24 loss, which dropped the Bills to 5–5.[10]

Despite the string of losses, the Bills then went on a 4–2 run to finish the season at 9–7, clinching the AFC's 6th seed and their first playoff appearance in 18 years, thus ending both the NFL's and the North American professional sports franchise's longest active playoff droughts during McDermott's first year as head coach.[11] The Bills would go on to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars 10–3 in the AFC Wild Card Game.

The following season, McDermott's Bills finished 6–10 and missed the playoffs, but had a strong finish to the season after a 2–7 start. After suffering blowout losses in four of the first nine games, partly caused by a lack of offensive talent,[12] the Bills adjusted their roster, allowing them to stay competitive in each of the last seven games. Buffalo's defense improved in 2018.[13]

McDermott was nominated for NFL Head Coach of the Year for the 2019 season after leading the Bills to a 10–6 record, receiving their second playoff berth in three seasons as the AFC's #5 seed. The Bills would lose 22-19 to the Houston Texans in overtime during the Wild Card round.

On August 12, 2020, McDermott signed a contract extension through 2025.[14]

The 2020 season marked many instances of growth and success for McDermott and the Bills. Quarterback Josh Allen developed dramatically, turning into an MVP candidate and leading the Bills to their first AFC East Division Title since 1995, as well as a 13–3 record, tied for second best in the league behind the Kansas City Chiefs. They also ended several playoff droughts, winning their first playoff game in 25 years with a win against the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round, as well as defeating the Baltimore Ravens 17–3 for a trip to their first AFC Championship Game since 1993, their first in 27 years.[15]

In the AFC Championship, the Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-24, ending their 2020 season, a game shy of a Super Bowl appearance. McDermott was questioned by fans and analysts for his play calling, with criticism specifically aimed at his decision making in regards to attempting field goals instead of touchdowns on a pair of 4th and goal situations. The Bills finished their 2020 season with an accumulative record of 15-4. [16]

Head coaching record
TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
BUF2017 970.5632nd in AFC East01.000Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars in AFC Wild Card Game
BUF2018 6100.3753rd in AFC East————
BUF2019 1060.6252nd in AFC East01.000Lost to Houston Texans in AFC Wild Card Game
BUF2020 1330.8131st in AFC East21.667Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in AFC Championship Game
Total38260.59423.400

Personal life

McDermott and his wife Jamie have two children, one son and one daughter. The family resides in Orchard Park, New York. McDermott is a Christian.[17]

References
  1. Cabrey, Mike (August 10, 2009). "McDermott proud of local roots". Daily Local News. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  2. https://billswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/15/buffalo-bills-pittsburgh-steelers-mike-tomlin-sean-mcdermott/
  3. "Eagles introduce McDermott to succeed coordinator Johnson". NFL.com. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  4. La Canfora, Jason (January 15, 2011). "Eagles fire defensive coordinator McDermott". NFL.com. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  5. Hornsby, Neil (January 20, 2016). "Pro Football Focus' 2015 NFL Positional Coaches of the Year". Pro Football Focus.
  6. "Super Bowl 50 - Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers - February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  7. John Breech (January 11, 2017). "Bills tap Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott as next head coach". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  8. "New York Jets at Buffalo Bills - September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  9. Zadonowicz, Dylan (September 13, 2017). "Sean McDermott won his first game as Buffalo Bills head coach". Buffalo Rumblings. SBNation. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  10. Sessler, Mark (November 19, 2017). "Bills bench Peterman for Tyrod Taylor after 5-INT Half". NFL.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  11. Rodak, Mike (January 1, 2018). "Bills end drought, secure wild-card spot after Bengals beat Ravens". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  12. Schatz, Aaron (October 24, 2018). "Worst. Offense. Ever? Bills are on pace for dubious mark". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  13. "Bills Today: Micah Hyde not satisfied with No. 2 ranked defense". www.buffalobills.com. January 2, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  14. Lavoie, Dan. "Buffalo Bills sign Sean McDermott to a multi-year contract extension". buffalorumblings.com. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  15. Reiss, Mike. "Buffalo Bills beat Baltimore Ravens, advance to first AFC Championship Game since 1993 season". espn.com. ESPN, LLC. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  16. Maiorana, Sal. "Bills report card: Buffalo's coaching staff has worst performance of year against Chiefs". democratandchronicle.com. democraticandchronicle, LLC. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  17. Graham, Tim (September 1, 2017). "Sean McDermott Files: And if you don't know, now you know". The Buffalo News. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
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