NFL insider names Sean McDermott possible candidate for two head-coach jobs

Sean McDermott's time with the Buffalo Bills is officially over, as he was fired by the Bills on Tuesday after their divisional round loss to the Denver Broncos over the weekend.

Though McDermott failed to reach the Super Bowl during his nine-year tenure in Buffalo, the former Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator played a major role in stabilizing the franchise and bringing winning football back to Western New York.

If McDermott wants to continue coaching, he will be one of the most coveted head coaching candidates on the market, and rumors are already swirling about where the former Bills head coach could be heading next.

According to Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr, the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals are massive winners of McDermott news. Orr extensively discussed Arizona as a potential landing spot for McDermott.

"Similarly, I think this could have positive ramifications for both the Raiders and, especially, the Cardinals. Arizona seemed to be boxed out of the premium candidate market, but McDermott could be a stabilizing force in Arizona, a team that very much resembles the down-and-out Bills when McDermott took over that job in 2017," Orr wrote.

The Cardinals have suffered through four straight losing seasons and haven't won more than four games in three of the last four seasons. As a result, the team moved on from Jonathan Gannon after three abysmal seasons.

Arizona needs a culture builder, and McDermott fits that description. Though Arizona may not want to hire a defensive-minded coach after the Gannon disaster, McDermott is one of the best coaches in football and could revive the Cardinals into a playoff contender.

Las Vegas could also be a McDermott destination, and they are an attractive opening due to the offensive talent and No. 1 pick. McDermott could be the missing piece at head coach that catapults the Raiders back into the postseason.

We'll see what McDermott decides to do, but the Cardinals and Raiders should be heavily pursuing Buffalo's former head coach as this 2026 coaching cycle intensifies.