{"id":16305,"date":"2026-01-25T23:05:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T23:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/sean-mcdermott-year-off-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T23:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T23:05:04","slug":"sean-mcdermott-year-off-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/sean-mcdermott-year-off-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean McDermott Likely to Take a Year Off, Sources Say"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><strong>Lead:<\/strong> After his dismissal by the Buffalo Bills, veteran head coach Sean McDermott has told staff he intends to keep coaching, but multiple reports indicate he is likely to sit out the next season. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media told NBC Sports that McDermott is &#8220;likely to take a year off,&#8221; and several teams with vacancies did not pause hiring for a potential McDermott pursuit. With a record of consistent postseason appearances in Buffalo, his decision to wait reflects both market dynamics and preference for a suitable opening. The immediate result: several coaching searches proceeded without him as a contender.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Ian Rapoport (NFL Media) told NBC Sports that McDermott is &#8220;likely to take a year off,&#8221; signaling low odds of an immediate return.<\/li>\n<li>McDermott spent nine seasons with the Bills, reaching the playoffs eight times and posting seven consecutive postseason berths.<\/li>\n<li>No major hires were delayed when McDermott entered the market; the Dolphins and Titans, among others, did not pause their processes.<\/li>\n<li>There was no reported Harbaugh-style rush for McDermott, suggesting demand did not spike markedly after his availability.<\/li>\n<li>Teams often searching this cycle\u2014Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, Titans, Dolphins\u2014have not converted regularly to Super Bowl contenders in recent years.<\/li>\n<li>McDermott\u2019s first playoff trip in Buffalo came with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback, underscoring factors beyond an elite QB in his past success.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Sean McDermott\u2019s tenure in Buffalo lasted nine seasons, during which the franchise reversed an extended postseason drought and became a frequent playoff participant. The Bills reached the postseason eight times under McDermott, including a string of seven straight appearances, making him one of the more successful recent long-term coaches in the league. Owner Terry Pegula has publicly suggested that coaching choices contributed to the team hitting a &#8220;proverbial playoff wall,&#8221; a framing that influenced how observers interpreted the firing.<\/p>\n<p>Across the NFL, openings often come with widely varying appeals: some franchises offer stable rosters and draft capital, others are flagged by turnover and limited quarterback options. In this coaching market, teams with vacancies frequently face competing constraints\u2014cap space, roster holes, and front-office philosophies\u2014that shape whether a high-profile coach elects to join. Historically, coaches with McDermott\u2019s resume weigh fit carefully; a poor match can accelerate another dismissal and harm long-term prospects.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The immediate report, relayed by Ian Rapoport of NFL Media and carried by NBC Sports, is that McDermott plans to remain in coaching but will probably not take a job in the coming season. According to the reporting, McDermott informed his staff that he intended to keep coaching, yet league interest did not crystallize into competing offers or hiring pauses. Several teams that had vacancies moved forward with candidates rather than delay in hopes of landing McDermott.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans did not halt their hiring processes, and there were no accounts of the boundary-pushing, multi-team scramble that accompanied some past openings. That absence of a land rush suggests teams viewed McDermott as a viable candidate but not a must-have that warranted disrupting their timelines. For organizations weighing coach experience, quarterback situation, and infrastructure, the calculus often favors expediency.<\/p>\n<p>McDermott\u2019s Buffalo record\u2014especially the 2020s stretch of playoff consistency\u2014remains the core credential that would attract suitors. Yet even with that CV, the league\u2019s recent pattern is that many openings are for franchises still searching for a quarterback or stable foundation, which can diminish immediate attractiveness for a proven coach. The result: McDermott may prefer to wait for a position that better matches his strengths than accept a stopgap role.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>From a career-management perspective, taking a season off can preserve McDermott\u2019s market value by avoiding a rushed hire that ends quickly. Coaches who accept poor fits risk rapid turnover and reputational erosion; sitting out allows time for better openings to emerge and for candidates to reassess front-office stability around the league. For McDermott\u2014who has shown the ability to reach the playoffs consistently\u2014patience could yield a more durable next assignment.<\/p>\n<p>For teams pursuing upgrades, the lack of a McDermott landslide means an even wider distribution of coaching candidates across openings. Franchises such as the Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, Titans and Dolphins are each at different stages of roster development; without McDermott as a clear, immediate option, front offices will prioritize alignment with their quarterbacks and long-term plans. That dynamic favors organizations that can present clearer paths to competitiveness.<\/p>\n<p>There is also a competitive balance angle: coaches linked to top-tier quarterbacks draw outsized interest, and McDermott\u2019s recent work with one of the league\u2019s best QBs has been a focal point. But his first playoff breakthrough in Buffalo occurred with Tyrod Taylor, reminding evaluators that system, culture, and front-office coherence matter nearly as much as elite talent under center. Leaguewide, a high-profile coach electing to step back can lengthen hiring timelines and alter the domino effects across multiple franchises.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Metric<\/th>\n<th>McDermott (Buffalo)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Seasons<\/td>\n<td>9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Playoff appearances<\/td>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Consecutive playoff seasons<\/td>\n<td>7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>McDermott\u2019s Buffalo tenure in summary (seasons and postseason results).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The table above highlights the contrast between McDermott\u2019s stability and many teams now hiring, which often lack multi-year postseason continuity. For candidates and clubs alike, raw tenure and playoff frequency are key comparators; they inform whether a coach is likely to be considered a short-term fix or a foundational hire.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Likely to take a year off.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Ian Rapoport \/ NFL Media (reported via NBC Sports)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Rapoport\u2019s shorthand summary was circulated widely and framed the market expectation that McDermott will not immediately re-enter coaching. That characterization drove reporting that several teams continued their hiring timelines.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Coaching, not talent,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Terry Pegula, Buffalo Bills owner (paraphrased)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Owner Terry Pegula\u2019s assessment\u2014advanced publicly as a reason for Buffalo\u2019s postseason stagnation\u2014has been cited as context by observers weighing why the franchise made a change at head coach.<\/p>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: How NFL coaching markets move<\/summary>\n<p>Coaching searches are shaped by quarterback certainty, roster quality, front-office stability, and draft position. Teams with franchise quarterbacks can attract proven coaches quickly; those without must sell a longer-term vision. A coach\u2019s recent track record, playoff appearances, and perceived fit with a team\u2019s scheme or culture are decisive. Hiring windows often close fast when teams prioritize continuity, while marquee candidates can create domino effects across multiple openings.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether McDermott will definitively rule out coaching in 2026 remains unconfirmed; reports indicate a likely year off but not a firm commitment.<\/li>\n<li>There is no public, confirmed list of teams that formally offered McDermott an interview or job; media reporting instead notes a lack of broad, high-profile interest.<\/li>\n<li>Specific behind-the-scenes conversations between McDermott and individual team executives have not been publicly verified beyond reporting attributed to league sources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Sean McDermott\u2019s record in Buffalo\u2014nine seasons and eight playoff appearances\u2014makes him an attractive candidate on paper, but the immediate coaching market did not materialize into a scramble for his services. The NFL\u2019s 2025\u201326 hiring landscape featured multiple franchises proceeding with their timelines rather than pausing for McDermott, and league reporting indicates he is likely to sit out the coming season.<\/p>\n<p>For McDermott, waiting can be a strategic choice to protect long-term prospects rather than accept a misaligned role. For teams, his absence from the active pool redistributes demand among other candidates and increases pressure to identify coaches who fit their quarterback and organizational plans. Observers should watch the next major openings closely\u2014when clearer fits emerge, teams and McDermott may re-engage.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/nfl\/profootballtalk\/rumor-mill\/news\/report-sean-mcdermott-likely-to-take-a-year-off\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC Sports \u2014 Sports reporting (Ian Rapoport\/NFL Media cited)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: After his dismissal by the Buffalo Bills, veteran head coach Sean McDermott has told staff he intends to keep coaching, but multiple reports indicate he is likely to sit out the next season. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media told NBC Sports that McDermott is &#8220;likely to take a year off,&#8221; and several teams with &#8230; <a title=\"Sean McDermott Likely to Take a Year Off, Sources Say\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/sean-mcdermott-year-off-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Sean McDermott Likely to Take a Year Off, Sources Say\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Sean McDermott likely to take a year off \u2014 DeepNews","rank_math_description":"After his Buffalo exit, sources report Sean McDermott is likely to sit out a season rather than take a poor fit. Which teams moved on and what it means for the market.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Sean McDermott,Buffalo Bills,Ian Rapoport,NFL coaching,year off","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16305"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16305\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}