Why did the Bills fire coach Sean McDermott and what's next?

Bills fire Sean McDermott after making playoffs: Here's what we know.

Sean McDermott's tenure as head coach of the Buffalo Bills ended on Monday.

The Bills, led by McDermott for nine years, have the second-most wins of any franchise since 2017 (98-50).In eight of those seasons he led Buffalo to the playoffs, reaching the AFC Championship Game twice, but falling short of a Super Bowl appearance.

To take the next step with 2024 MVP quarterback Josh Allen and find a path to the franchise's first Super Bowl, the Bills will need to hire a new coach, and that responsibility will fall to general manager Brandon Beane.Bills owner Terry Pegula announced Monday that Beane was promoted to president of football operations, giving him increased coaching responsibilities.Inspections are also included.

So how did the Bills get here — firing McDermott and moving Beane two days after a 33-30 divisional loss to the Denver Broncos — and what does it mean?

Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg, senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler and NFL analyst Ben Solak answer all the pressing questions about the Bills going in a new direction after Monday's news.

Why was Sean McDermott fired?Was the loss in Denver a big factor in the decision?

He didn't finish the job.In terms of results, McDermott has been incredibly successful, winning 10 or more games in seven consecutive seasons, the longest streak in the NFL.The Bills are one of six teams in the Super Bowl era with such a long streak.

The shot came down to something McDermott didn't do, but perhaps more importantly, Pegula's clear decision to follow Beane's vision for the team moving forward. And the general manager won by earning the faith of the owners to create a vision for the future.Together, Beane and McDermott failed to achieve their shared goal of becoming the team's football leaders. And that was the franchise's first Super Bowl victory or even the big game.But the Bills are the only team of six that hasn't made multiple Super Bowl appearances in a winning streak.Buffalo had lost three more points in a row.

Leaving McDermott was not a one-game or one-season decision.This is a coach who represented Western New York and became one of its fiercest defenders.He built a culture that many flocked to and loved, with several players joining (or returning to) Buffalo to play for McDermott, as evidenced by the shocked and dismayed reactions to his firing.

Pegula stated in his statement that he believes that the system is not the most effective and that putting only one person - Beane - in charge of all football operations is the best effort to win the Super Bowl - Getzenberg.

How does Allen feel about McDermott and how much of a role does the QB play in this decision?

McDermott wouldn't have been sacked if quarterback Josh Allen wasn't aware.Allen's importance to the building cannot be understated, and maximizing his strength is a big part of this move.After a very emotional Saturday afternoon for the franchise quarterback, for the first time, Allen did not have a press conference to clean up the team's locker room on Sunday, a sign that something was up.

Although Allen spoke highly of McDermott publicly, their relationship was not in great shape early in his career but improved over the years.Allen is also very close to Beane and that will be a key relationship going forward.

The quarterback's input to the coaching search will also be a big one to watch out for, as he spoke highly of him and had a strong relationship with many names that could be involved, especially Bills current offensive coordinator Joe Brady, former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and former Bills defensive end Davis Webb.-- Getzenberg

Will this be the best job right away?And should John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski regret being hired?

While the Bills career is very attractive for MVP-related reasons, I'm not sure it's better than the other options.The new head coach enters Buffalo with high expectations, having made the playoffs seven times in a row, including a share of six straight division titles.No teardowns and rebuilds near Buffalo, no one-year grace period.The next coach should hit the ground running and win as soon as January.

That being said, I imagine Harbaugh and Stefanski will have their eyes on this job for a long time - especially Stefanski, as he has never coached an elite quarterback like Allen before, and the duo could very well find offensive success together.I'd bet the Bills' job will go quickly because of Allen's call, but that seems like a trap to me.-- Solak

Which prospects make sense for Buffalo?

This is an exciting job that will attract many strong candidates.It won't be a perfect job – the roster has some gaps and expectations will be huge – but the chance to coach Allen and get the best out of him will be a huge one.An internal option, offensive coordinator Joe Brady and former Giants head coach Brian Daboll, a couple of Buffalo OC alumni, could be considered.Daboll, in particular, is originally from Western New York and has a long relationship with Allen.

But it was a good time to settle the accounts again in a new picture of Los Angeles Roms Shipment of Losle Codes.

A trio of even younger offensive coaches — Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach Grant Udinski, Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb — are also worth interviewing.- Fowler

Dan Orlovsky and Rex Ryan share who they think is the best replacement for Sean McDermott in Buffalo.

Why did Bills GM keep Brandon Beane and will he be in first place next year?

With Buffalo showing long-term faith in Beane, not only was he given more responsibility but the move showed Pegola's confidence in his abilities and his vision for the organization.Beane's promotion will also put more of a spotlight on his performance if the team falls again because he has full control.

This is a change since McDermott reported directly to Pegula.Beane, 49, is now in charge of the football side of the team, suggesting he will have more time with the new coach to make any changes he sees fit.

The manager has come under a lot of criticism because of the strength of the arms around Allen and the fact that many of the recent 1 and 2 draft picks and additional free agents have not lived up to expectations.

Beane, who also taught directly to Pegula, was able to build his own trust and relationship with the owner.Pegula made it clear that Beane is the person to take the team forward.-- Getzenberg

What are Buffalo's big decisions this offseason?

The wide receiver is the main bill.The position group has a draft number with major question marks surrounding it.Fixing that group will be one of Bean's biggest tasks.

There are several positions in the free agency stream, especially along two lines.Starting center Connor McGovern and left guard David Edwards will be free agents, which is a big loss going forward.Pass rusher is also an area that needs work, as Joey Bosa and AJ Epenesa are free agents, and finding a consistent strong presence has been an issue for this team.

When McDermott left, the defensive signs that appeared in general were important because the squad was built in accordance with the coach's plans in particular.Areas like safety and support become big gaps that need to be filled.

The real challenge will be rebuilding the roster under a new head coach -- one who can make the team competitive again right away next season with the 30-year-old Allen at quarterback and the Bills' current limitations.- Getzenberg

Where could McDermott land, and does he move to the top of the list of available HC candidates?

McDermott's presence will cause some front offices to rethink their plans.Tennessee comes to mind.

The Titans focus on tight ends Matt Nagy, Robert Saleh and Jeff Hafley.Can they bring in McDermott?At least it's important for him to think about her.He has instant credibility.Even if Tennessee and Miami (in Hafley's eyes) can stay on track with their current search, McDermott has five places to pursue -- the Raiders, Browns, Steelers, Ravens and Cardinals.

The first two do not fit at this stage.Both teams are rebuilding and positioning themselves to start engaging outside the penalty area.McDermott's coaching style will fit seamlessly into the AFC North.Baltimore, which is not shying away from a revamped model in its pursuit, appears to be a better option than Pittsburgh.Arizona falls somewhere in the middle, but hardly has a goal at this point.

Sonja, McDermott is the best candidate right now, but a lot will depend on the current track and team selection.-- Fowler