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 Certain candidates – such as Mike McDaniel and Jesse Minter (Browns) and Kevin Stefanski (Raiders) – have withdrawn from those teams’ searches.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.
Make sure you get your yearly coaching vaccination or you might end up coaching the Raiders.
COACH-VID ‘26. It’s not film study, it’s just contagious.
There’s around 4 or 5 teams to coach where a coach will catch a virus
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.
I was going to say this. It’s not like his boss did him any favors by firing him so late when most of the teams had already decided on or ranked their current prospects. Any jobs still open may not be as desirable as those that aren’t, and McDermott has got to get started when many other candidates have already interviewed.
Yep, no reason to take a bad job just to have a job. He still has money and can afford a year off and can get tv job or consultant. I think more coaches will be smarter about it like it worked for Vrabel. Heard analysts say how was it possible he didn’t coach in 2024…the jobs were trash besides Chargers. Seahawks managed to turn it around so I guess them too.
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.
Vready and Vrable !
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.
Wow this is a dumb take.
So you’re saying a coach’s attitudes never transfer to the players? Then why hire a coach at all?
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
All of them could be open again next year, anyway
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.
True but they were together in Carolina for years
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.
Yes, that’s a job with a long road rebuilding ahead. Whatever coach will also have to oversee the selection and development of a new QB, too. It could be the right scenario for someone, but I wouldn’t pick it for McDermott.
The recent GM/Owner crash out in Buffalo is only elevating McDermott’s stock. I would say strike now while the iron is hot. But a year off is not a bad idea. Next year the Tampa job will be available, would be a great fit for McD
He’s a family guy and may just want a year to consider next steps and get his family things in order before relocating. He grew up and Philly and got his start with the Eagles, so maybe he’s waiting to see if Siriani has another less than stellar season and they go another direction.
“He’s… a… family… guuuuuuuuy!”
Why take one of the last jobs a VC available, next year ge would get his pick of jobs?
He’s had the golden ticket in the NFL (Josh Allen) and couldn’t make it to a SB. Came close a few years ago against KC in that wild playoff game. Not sure I’d want him for my re-build with the teams that are left.
Side note: if you’re Josh Allen and are watching Bo Nix/Stridham, Drake Maye, and Sam Darnold in the playoffs, you have to be pissed.
Allen should probably direct those complaints to the guy responsible for giving him wideouts. Postage should be cheap, as he’s still in the building.
I don’t put the Bills problems on their offense, more on their defense. They had a great running game, a decent TE, and enough WRs to score points against anyone. They didn’t have a pass rush or shut down D. I’d argue all 4 teams that played yesterday had better Ds than Buffalo. KC showed you can win a SB with an average offense but great defense.
People blame the coach for not having WRs, but Beane had the option to pick from 2-3 other decent WRs (including Rashin Shaeed) without giving up much at the trade deadline. Instead he sat on his hands and cried about not pulling the trigger on a Waddle trade, which apparently everyone but him knew wasn’t going to happen.