BREAKING NEWS: According to reports, the Buffalo Bills still owe Sean McDermott three years’ worth of unpaid salary. He has now returned to his hometown in Texas.
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the NFL community, former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has reportedly left Western New York and returned to his roots in Texas, even as the Bills remain on the hook for a substantial portion of his contract. Sources close to the situation indicate that the team still owes McDermott approximately three years’ worth of salary—potentially totaling millions—following his abrupt dismissal earlier this month.
McDermott, who guided the Bills to unprecedented regular-season success over nearly a decade, was let go just days after Buffalo’s heartbreaking overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round. The defeat marked yet another playoff exit without a Super Bowl appearance, a recurring theme that ultimately sealed his fate despite a strong 98-50 regular-season record and multiple deep postseason runs.
The financial implications are significant. McDermott’s contract extension, signed in June 2023, was set to run through the 2027 season with an annual value around $8 million. With his firing coming midway through the deal, the Bills are reportedly obligated to pay out the remaining balance—estimated by multiple NFL insiders at close to $16 million over the next two years. While the exact structure of the payout remains private, reports suggest the team could be sending McDermott roughly $1 million per month without him coaching a single game.
This “dead money” scenario is not uncommon in the NFL, where guaranteed contracts protect coaches from immediate financial hardship after a dismissal.
For Bills fans, the news adds insult to injury. The franchise, already facing salary-cap challenges in the coming years—including significant dead cap hits from previous decisions—now carries this additional burden. Owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane, who once hailed McDermott as the architect of a reborn Bills era, made the tough call to move on, promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach in hopes of finally breaking through to the Super Bowl with superstar quarterback Josh Allen leading the way.
McDermott’s departure has not been without emotion. In his final days with the team, he delivered passionate remarks defending his players and the city of Buffalo after the controversial overtime defeat. Yet, the organization’s decision reflected a belief that the team had “hit the wall” in the playoffs, unable to convert regular-season dominance into championship glory. Allen’s visible heartbreak in the locker room post-game reportedly played a role in Pegula’s resolve to seek fresh leadership.
Now, McDermott has quietly exited the Buffalo spotlight and headed south to Texas, his home state where he was born and raised. Sources describe the move as a return to his hometown roots, offering a chance to recharge after nine intense seasons in one of the league’s most passionate football markets. The 51-year-old coach, known for his defensive-minded approach and disciplined culture-building, has indicated he is likely to take at least a full year away from the sidelines.
This sabbatical would allow him time with family, reflection on his career, and evaluation of future opportunities—whether as a head coach elsewhere, a defensive coordinator, or even in a college role.
Texas holds deep personal significance for McDermott. Growing up in the Lone Star State shaped his early love for football, and returning there provides a natural reset button after years of harsh Buffalo winters and relentless media scrutiny. While no official statement has confirmed his exact location or long-term plans, the symbolism is clear: a highly paid coach, still collecting checks from a northern franchise, retreating to warmer, more familiar territory.
The Bills, meanwhile, turn the page under Brady, who has already paid tribute to McDermott’s influence in bringing him to Buffalo and helping develop Allen into an MVP-caliber quarterback. Brady’s message was direct: gratitude for the foundation laid, but a clear mandate to elevate the team beyond it. Fans in Buffalo—long-suffering yet fiercely loyal—hope this change sparks the breakthrough that eluded McDermott’s tenure.
Yet the lingering contract obligation looms large. In an era where NFL teams scrutinize every dollar, the Bills’ commitment to honor McDermott’s deal underscores the high-stakes nature of coaching hires. It’s a reminder that even in failure, success in the regular season commands respect—and substantial compensation.
As McDermott settles back into Texas life, perhaps enjoying barbecue, family time, and a slower pace, the Bills press forward with new leadership and old financial ties. Whether this chapter proves a wise investment in change or another costly detour remains to be seen. For now, one thing is certain: the money keeps flowing south, even as the coach himself has already arrived home. a a a a a a
