The Buffalo Bills exited the playoffs with a narrow defeat to the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos. As it turned out, this was head coach Sean McDermott's last game in charge of the AFC East club.
In a stunning development, the Bills confirmed they are moving on from McDermott after nine seasons. They were always the bridesmaid and never the bride under his leadership. With no Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or Lamar Jackson in the postseason this year, Buffalo still couldn't get over the hump.
Adam Schefter of ESPN confirmed that McDermott is expected to be under immediate consideration for a head-coaching return. Just two of the 10 openings have been filled, so there is a good chance he'll get interviews if he wants them.
Sean McDermott firing could improve Commanders' chances of landing Brian Flores
This could also indirectly impact the Washington Commanders. They are not firing Dan Quinn — not yet, anyway. He generated too much equity in 2024 for that, but parting ways with both coordinators indicates how the pressure is building.
David Blough was the man chosen to replace outgoing offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. It's a contentious in-house promotion with feast-or-famine potential. Washington's search for a new defensive coordinator is ongoing, and Quinn is seeking an experienced play-caller. If they've been a head coach before, that only sweetens the pot.
McDermott got the job in Buffalo after steering the Carolina Panthers' defense to unprecedented heights. He'd be a possible candidate for Washington if he didn't want to jump straight back into the top job. However, his presence on the market may help Quinn land another big fish being considered.
The Commanders caused a stir by bringing in Brian Flores for an interview. He's getting head-coaching interest, and the Minnesota Vikings are also highly confident of keeping him around. However, if McDermott throws his hat into the ring, that could hinder his chances of getting a second chance.
That might work in the Commanders' favor. They are biding their time, waiting for the head-coaching cycle to shake out before deciding on their next move. Whether that's waiting for Flores or someone else remains to be seen, but staying patient is a risk Quinn is willing to take to secure the right successor to Joe Whitt Jr.
Obviously, nobody knows anything one way or another. Dianna Russini of The Athletic noted that teams are looking to move quickly on McDermott, but in-person interviews are now underway. Flores, the Commanders, and everyone else are in limbo until announcements are confirmed. But Quinn cannot get caught on the back foot.
The Commanders can only wait for so long. But their chances of landing Flores may have improved ever so slightly thanks to McDermott's availability.