Four head coaching vacancies are still present around the NFL. Sean McDermott would no doubt be among the top candidates on the market, but he has not yet been linked to a hire during the waning stages of this year’s hiring cycle. 
That may remain the case for some time. The recently-fired Bills head coach “has not engaged” with any of the teams currently in need of a new HC, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes (video link). Buffalo has yet to hire his replacement, while the Cardinals, Browns and Raiders still have an opening on the sidelines.
Many of the other vacancies around the league have been viewed as more attractive than those in Arizona, Cleveland and Las Vegas. Certain candidates – such as Mike McDaniel and Jesse Minter (Browns) and Kevin Stefanski (Raiders) – have withdrawn from those teams’ searches. Klay Kubiak, meanwhile, recently took himself out of the running for all remaining HC positions.
Nothing is final at this point, but Rapoport names McDermott as a candidate to join those staffers by avoiding any of the gigs he could receive consideration for. A return to defensive coordinator duties could be possible, but Rapoport adds McDermott received positive reviews when speaking to others who spent one year out of coaching after a lengthy spell with one team came to an end.
As such, it is currently “likely” McDermott will be out of the league for 2026, per Rapoport (contrary to a recent report which stated he intended to immediately resume his career). The 51-year-old entered the NFL in 1999 with the Eagles; his first coaching role came about two years later. McDermott worked his way up to defensive coordinator as a longtime member of Andy Reid‘s staff. After two years in that role, he spent six leading the Panthers’ defense. McDermott then joined Brandon Beane in moving from Carolina to Buffalo.
The Bills made the postseason eight times in McDermott’s nine years coaching the team. Buffalo advanced to at least the divisional round of the postseason on each of those occasions, but an inability to reach the Super Bowl increasingly became an issue. Owner Terry Pegula opted to promote Beane while moving on from McDermott, who sports a .662 winning percentage in the regular season (something which will no doubt make him a coveted staffer when he chooses to return).
Once the conference title games wrap up, further clarity on the remaining HC vacancies will emerge. McDermott is free to speak with interested suitors at any time, but that may not take place barring a shift on his stance regarding the 2026 campaign.
This makes it sound like coaching is a virus he’s hoping not to catch.
Nah take on a senior defensive consultant role or something get an easy paycheck man
Well look at the available jobs…not that hard to see why taking a year off is a better option.
The Raiders, number one pick, and the available cap space they have could be a lucrative job……look what Vrable did with the Patriots, draft right and spend a few bucks you can have a good team in a hurry
I don’t disagree but would you like Brady breathing down your neck cuz i wouldn’t also i know it is a mistake but the way you spelled Vrabel is killing me lol.
Well if you hire a HC who is looking for a soft easy gig, not interested in taking on a challenge or facing any adversity, then you will probably get players who just want to cruise also.
He could go down to Tampa and show Todd Bowles how it is done…and take over the DC position…but the Buccaneers have not done a thing to improve that awful defense in 2025
I would rather wait till next year too, I mean Cardinals, Browns and Raiders isn’t exactly intriguing
Bizarre article that lumps him with coaches who have withdrawn from openings because they took other jobs. Minor point, I guess
Beane joined McDermott not the other way around. McDermott was hired months before the Bills fired Whaley and hired Beane.
Cardinals got 9 games against teams that made the playoffs this year, and that’s not including the chiefs, or the lions and cowboys offenses
The Cardinals job would not be that bad as the have some weapons with McBride, Harrison and Wilson. Problem is they play in the best division in football where the 3rd place team won twelve games.