Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills.
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A Sean McDermott petition to reinstate him as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills is gaining momentum online.
Former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott saw his long tenure with the team come to an abrupt end in January, but the debate over his direction of the team is being revived during free agency.
Bills owner Terry Pegula fired McDermott, saying it was the team’s inability to get over the hump in a competitive AFC was the deciding factor. The Bills won the AFC East for five straight seasons but never advanced beyond the AFC Championship game, leading to McDermott’s ouster.
With many of the defensive-minded coach’s core players still waiting to find new teams, McDermott is earning both praise and criticism for his efforts.
Sean McDermott’s Roster Draws Praise and Criticism
WGR 550 reporter Jeremy White pointed out this week that many of the team’s former core defensive players are still unsigned, close to a month into free agency. The group includes some longtime Bills regulars like cornerback Tre’Davious White and linebacker Matt Milano.
Fellow reporter Joe DiBiase saw that as a strong point for McDermott, who consistently put together some of the league’s best defenses despite having a core group of players that appear largely unwanted by the rest of the NFL.
“McDermott really made a league average defense out of a bunch of guys no one else wants,” DiBiase wrote in a post on X.
Others criticized McDermott for keeping core players who don’t appear to be wanted by the NFL, though the debate hinged on whether it was McDermott or general manager Brandon Beane who had more control over the roster makeup.
The Bills parted ways with some of the players earlier this offseason in cap-saving moves. The Bills announced that cornerback Dane Jackson and safety Taylor Rapp were released, while nickel cornerback Taron Johnson was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
McDermott dropped out of the hiring cycle after being fired by the Bills, instead reportedly taking a year off before determining his next move.
Bills Make Decisions on Former Key Player
The Bills have brought back some of the players on White’s list since his original post, announcing that safety Damar Hamlin would be returning on a one-year deal. He has been a key reserve for the Bills, filling in as a starter during injuries and serving as a regular on special teams.
Hamlin missed the majority of the 2025 season after suffering an injury in October, but will return to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Another key player from 2025 could be headed to a new destination. The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf suggested that edge rusher Joey Bosa — signed by the Bills for a one-year, $12 million deal last offseason — could join his brother on the San Francisco 49ers.
“This isn’t just about the fact that Bosa’s brother, Nick, is one of the premier edge rushers in the NFL and locked in long term with the 49ers, although that doesn’t hurt,” Yousuf wrote on Friday. “Bosa had a bit of a resurgence last year in Buffalo, playing in 15 games, his most since 2021. He also made an impact, tallying five sacks and leading the league with five forced fumbles.”