At 51 years old, Sean McDermott has already authored one of the most stabilizing coaching tenures in the NFL. His road to Buffalo was built through years of defensive work, taking responsibility, and lessons learned the hard way. What he has accomplished with the Buffalo Bills cannot be denied. What remains unresolved is how far that success can carry in January.
Buffalo finished the regular season 12-5 and enters the postseason as the AFC’s No. 6 seed, traveling to face the No. 3 seed Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon. For McDermott, it is another postseason opportunity layered with expectation, history, and scrutiny.
Pennsylvania roots to NFL coordinator
McDermott’s rise was anything but immediate. After playing safety at William & Mary, he entered the NFL through the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office, where he handled scouting and administrative duties before earning a coaching role. Under Andy Reid, he worked his way through quality control, defensive backs, and linebackers assignments before being trusted with coordinating an NFL defense.
That climb included a Super Bowl appearance with Philadelphia, a loss that still shaped his early résumé. By the time his tenure with the Eagles ended, McDermott had already developed a reputation as a disciplined, detail-driven defensive mind who demanded accountability.
Carolina aided the foundation
McDermott’s next stop came with the Carolina Panthers, where his defenses consistently ranked among the league’s best. From 2012 through 2015, Carolina finished in the top tier defensively, leaning on speed, physicality, and situational awareness.
That run finished in a Super Bowl appearance following the 2015 season. While the Panthers fell short against Denver, McDermott’s defense allowed just one offensive touchdown. Around the league, he was no longer viewed as a coordinator in waiting. He was a head coach in preparation.
Buffalo’s reset and rapid rise
When Buffalo hired McDermott in 2017, the franchise was stuck in a long cycle of irrelevance. The Bills had not reached the playoffs since 1999. That changed immediately. In his first season, McDermott led Buffalo to the postseason, snapping the longest active playoff drought in North American professional sports.
From there, the Bills evolved into one of the league’s most consistent regular-season teams. Division titles followed. Double-digit win seasons became routine. Stability replaced chaos.
Much of that transformation is tied to quarterback Josh Allen, whose development into an MVP-level talent occurred entirely under McDermott’s leadership. Together, they reshaped expectations in Buffalo and turned the Bills into a perennial contender.
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Postseason resume under the microscope
For all the regular season success, McDermott’s playoff record continues to define the broader conversation. His postseason mark sits at 7-7. Buffalo has reached two AFC Championship Games during his tenure, both ending in losses to Kansas City. The Bills have also endured multiple divisional round exits, including the now-infamous overtime loss after allowing a tying drive in the final seconds.
Buffalo has won playoff games. It has not won enough of them. That reality, combined with the franchise’s long history of postseason heartbreak, magnifies every January moment.
This season is no exception. At 12-5, the Bills are talented enough to make a run, but seeding has removed any safety net. A road game against Jacksonville opens the postseason with immediate urgency.
What lies ahead
McDermott has already proven he can build, stabilize, and sustain a winning culture. Few coaches in the league can match his regular-season consistency over the past several years. The remaining question is whether this era can deliver the one achievement that continues to elude Buffalo.
At 51, McDermott is firmly in his coaching prime. His system is entrenched. His quarterback is elite. His locker room believes. What remains is translating that foundation into postseason results that change the narrative.
Sunday in Jacksonville is not just another playoff game. It is the next chapter in a tenure defined by progress, pressure, and the unanswered question that follows Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills every January.
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