Achieving playoff success consistently, as the Buffalo Bills have done by winning a playoff game for six straight seasons, does not always translate to true victory. Despite a solid run since 2020, under head coach Sean McDermott, the Bills have struggled to convert that regular-season success into meaningful playoff advancement.
Looking back, only three teams have achieved sustained winning like this in the Super Bowl era—the 1990s Cowboys, the 2010s Patriots, and the 2020s Chiefs. Yet, unlike these predecessors, McDermott’s era was marked by a distressing inability to guide a team led by quarterback Josh Allen to at least three playoff victories in a single postseason. His struggle to elevate the team ultimately led to his termination, announced on Monday after nearly a decade of leading the Bills.
Jon Gruden, an ex-coach turned media personality, expressed his dismay at the Bills’ decision. Hearing the news live on air, Gruden highlighted what he saw as a rush to judgment against McDermott, a coach he views as capable but now unfairly scapegoated for the team’s shortcomings.
“That makes me sick, that makes me absolutely sick,” Gruden stated candidly (via Wake Up Barstool).
“I mean, I have no idea what’s going on in this league. They fired 10 head coaches this year. Good luck to Buffalo. Now I’m really glad they lost the (Divisional Round) game, personally… I don’t think you can do much better than Sean McDermott. Their whole defense was beat up during the year. Their defensive line, linebackers, and secondary were all compromised.”
Indeed, the Bills faced significant injury challenges throughout the season. Given this context, one could argue that McDermott actually showcased remarkable coaching resilience in 2025. This reality was not lost on Gruden, who expressed his profound concern over Buffalo’s choice to dismiss him.
“You know, for them to fire Sean McDermott after a season like this. I can’t say I’m surprised,” Gruden articulated with frustration. “But this one really hits me hard. It makes me sick… I think there’s gonna be a lot of people out there looking at Sean McDermott now that he’s available also.”
When a team lacks spirit or plays carelessly, those issues point to coaching. But when a team’s star player, recognized as one of the best in the game, doesn’t have adequate support to thrive, can that fault also lie with the coaching staff?
Or does that fall on the general manager? At the very moment the Bills opted to fire McDermott, general manager Brandon Beane received a promotion within the organization. Beane, who came on board after the 2017 draft due to his connection with McDermott, was elevated to President of Football Operations.
This is the same individual who has tried unsuccessfully to fill the wide receiver void left by Stefon Diggs. He has engaged in questionable free agency signings, notably Josh Palmer and Curtis Samuel, and has failed to draft a Pro Bowler, aside from James Cook, since selecting Allen back in 2018.
Despite being in a Super Bowl mindset for five years, concrete “win-now” moves remain glaringly absent. While the Colts have at least made aggressive moves towards competitiveness, the Bills have lagged in pivotal recruitment moments.
During the off-season, Beane dismissed criticism regarding the lack of talent at wide receiver as unwarranted. However, after Allen struggled while passing to Mecole Hardman, Keon Coleman, and Brandin Cooks in crucial playoff games, perhaps it’s time for some re-evaluation.
In the end, a curious scenario unfolds as Beane moves forward, having benefited from a situation that many view as deeply flawed.
