Sean McDermott Seeks Growth Outside of Football

Former Bills coach takes time to learn from leaders in other fields ahead of potential return to coaching

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:34pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a football game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy, green, and orange, conveying the multifaceted nature of a coach's personal growth journey.An abstract, deconstructed illustration captures the strategic complexity of an NFL coach's journey to self-improvement.Denver Today

After being fired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Sean McDermott is using his time away from football to grow and evolve as a leader. He is speaking with coaches and executives in other sports as well as corporate leaders, attending leadership conferences, and seeking perspectives outside of the football world to become a better coach when he returns to the sideline.

Why it matters

McDermott was a successful NFL head coach, leading the Bills to 8 playoff appearances in 9 seasons. However, the team was never able to reach the Super Bowl under his leadership. By taking this time to learn from leaders in diverse fields, McDermott hopes to gain new insights and approaches that will help him achieve that elusive championship when he gets his next coaching opportunity.

The details

Since being fired by the Bills, McDermott has not taken another coaching job. Instead, he has focused on spending more time with his family and pursuing personal growth. This has included watching film, doing research, and speaking with coaches and executives outside of football, such as Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and legendary wrestling coach Dan Gable. McDermott has also plans to speak with William & Mary chancellor Robert Gates and attend leadership conferences in other industries. His goal is to 'grow and evolve' as a leader by gaining perspectives from people and organizations that operate differently than the typical NFL franchise.

  • McDermott was fired by the Buffalo Bills in the wake of their playoff loss to the Denver Broncos in early 2026.

The players

Sean McDermott

The former head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who led the team to 8 playoff appearances in 9 seasons but was unable to guide them to a Super Bowl.

Mark Daigneault

The head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.

Dan Gable

A legendary wrestling coach known for his success and innovative coaching methods.

Robert Gates

The chancellor of William & Mary, a prestigious university.

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What they’re saying

“I could go visit people I know, but I already know what they're about and what they believe in. But [I'm] visiting some people that do things a little bit different than maybe I've done. . . . It's this guy that seems to have had success, or this gal's had success and their personalities may be a little bit different than mine. So, I'd like to get in on the ground floor and just see how they handle the day in and day out and how it translates to the NFL. I don't think it's healthy to stop just in sports, but to talk to people in the corporate world, those that are high-level performers, even though it doesn't directly overlap, there's correlation. . . . I think going outside of football is healthy and productive and powerful.”

— Sean McDermott, Former Buffalo Bills Head Coach

What’s next

McDermott is expected to speak with more leaders outside of football in the coming months as he continues his personal growth journey. Once he feels he has gained valuable new perspectives, he will likely begin pursuing head coaching opportunities in the NFL again.

The takeaway

McDermott's decision to step back from coaching and seek out diverse leadership insights from beyond the football world demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement. This open-minded approach could pay dividends when he returns to the sideline, potentially giving him a fresh perspective that helps him finally lead a team to the Super Bowl.