Total Pro Sports
The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott just days after their tough overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. The breaking point came after his emotional reaction to a vital officiating call.
“That play is not even close. That’s a catch all the way,” McDermott told reporters. “I sat in my locker and I looked at it probably 20 times, and nobody can convince me that that ball is not caught and in possession of Buffalo, I just have no idea how the NFL handled it. I think the players and the fans deserve an explanation, you know?”
Josh Allen threw a pass in overtime that officials ruled incomplete instead of an interception. McDermott strongly disagreed with the call. He repeated his stance, questioned how the league handled it, and showed clear frustration.
“That play is not even close. That’s a catch all the way. I sat in my locker and I looked at it probably 20 times, and nobody can convince me that that ball is not caught and in possession of Buffalo, I just have no idea how the NFL handed it, in particular, the way that they did. I think the players and the fans deserve an explanation,” he said.
A few days later, the Bills decided to move on.
McDermott had delivered strong regular-season results and consistent playoff appearances. But the team never reached the Super Bowl, and the repeated postseason failures finally caught up with him.
Buffalo’s leadership did not blame the officials. They blamed coaching decisions.
According to a report, team leaders believed McDermott missed several chances to win the game in Denver. They felt those choices cost them a real shot to advance.
“From recent conversations with people in the Bills’ organization, the sense I get is that it felt that there were opportunities to win Saturday in Denver, officiating or otherwise,” ESPN reporter Dianna Russini said. “Leadership felt a change was necessary after coming up short of the Super Bowl yet again.”
From recent conversations with people in the Bills’ organization, the sense I get is that it felt that there were opportunities to win Saturday in Denver, officiating or otherwise.
Leadership felt a change was necessary after coming up short of the Super Bowl yet again. pic.twitter.com/eKlKTm0dvB
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 19, 2026
The message was clear to the Bills’ owners. They lost trust in McDermott’s game management. To them, this loss felt like the same story again.
McDermott focused on one disputed call after the game. The front office focused on the bigger picture and his decisions throughout the season.
The Bills did not ignore the officiating. They just did not want to use it as an excuse for another early playoff exit.
Now Buffalo is looking for a new head coach. The team wants a fresh voice to lead Josh Allen. They want someone who can finally get them past the playoff hurdle.
McDermott...
