When the Bills fired Sean McDermott in January, there was immediate speculation that he, like ex-Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, could quickly land with another team.
However, most teams with head coaching vacancies were deep into their hiring process. Pausing to consider McDermott may have cost them other top candidates in a crowded, fast-moving market. The former Eagles and Panthers defensive coordinator could have taken an assistant role on another team’s staff, but instead, he will take a year away from football with the hopes of returning to the NFL in 2027, per The Athletic’s Mike Jones.
McDermott, 52, will be able to prioritize his family in a way that was not possible when he led the Bills. He will also have the time to become a better, more complete coach. His diverse plan includes self-scouting, studying new NFL trends, and other self-assigned research projects intended to further his football knowledge and refresh the repertoire of a coach who worked continuously for almost three decades. McDermott is also focusing on developing his leadership skills, drawing from his contemporaries in the NFL, coaches in other sports, and leaders from the business world, in the hopes of getting another head coaching job in the near future.
“Absolutely. I love coaching,” McDermott said on the Rich Eisen Show when asked if he still wanted to coach. He added that he missed “being a part of something bigger.”
Steve Spagnuolo and Mike McCarthy both took gap years after losing coaching jobs so they could better prepare themselves for their next gig. Spagnuolo left the Giants in 2017, stepped away for a year, and returned as the Chiefs defensive coordinator in 2019. Kansas City won the Super Bowl in three of the next five seasons. McCarthy did not coach in 2019 after being fired by the Packers and landed the Cowboys’ head coaching job in 2020. Dallas went 49-35 over the next five years, which including three straight 12-5 finishes and playoff berths. When he lost that job in 2024, he again spent a year away from football before returning as the Steelers’ head coach this offseason.
“For myself, it’s a year off,” McDermott continued. “But it’s also a year of opportunity in a lot of ways to grow and lean on my family.” He did not rule out the possibility of taking a media job and mentioned “some suitors” without offering any specifics.
McDermott was extremely successful during his nine seasons in Buffalo, compiling a 98-50 record (.662 winning percentage), but he still has areas of improvement. He is known as a premier defensive coach, but the Bills defense often collapsed in the playoffs even after strong regular season showings. His next team may not have an MVP quarterback like Josh Allen who is able to carry an entire offense when needed. Such a player can make up for all sorts of roster and schematic deficiencies, and yet, it could be argued that McDermott did not reign Allen in enough, either. The maverick QB’s questionable decision-making led to costly turnovers, including in the divisional round loss to the Broncos that was the final nail in McDermott’s coffin.
Not the guy you want talking on camera in September.
Jobs that could be available next year? Bengals. Panthers. Bucs. Jets. Colts