NFL: Coaching Carousel 2026 NFL

[Dylan]

I'm not surprised they have fired McDermott but I am surprised they have stuck with (and promoted) Brandon Beane.

 

[Bingo]

That's a big gamble given the candidates out there. Every chance anyone they go for could be a downgrade.

 

[Tom]

That's a big gamble given the candidates out there. Every chance anyone they go for could be a downgrade.

I was just thinking that myself. In a way, I'm ok with them firing McDermott. I think change is needed, but he has done an excellent job with the personnel he has had to work with - especially on defense over the past 2 years. Let's not forget, they had an awful spell under various coaches before McDermott, and there is a danger they struggle again.

Buffalo has no cap space, they have a bunch of key players on offense and defense hitting free agency, and they have no extra draft picks. They have Josh Allen and a brand new stadium but it isn't as attractive a job destination as some of the other vacancies still to be filled.

McDermott said in a statement on Monday night:

'For nearly a decade I have had the opportunity to wake up every morning as the Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills, which has truly been a gift.

'I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Pegula family, the Buffalo Bills organization, and to the fans for allowing me to live out the dream of being a Head Coach in the NFL in this incredibly special place.

'I am proud and humbled to have worked alongside amazing staff and players as we shared life together and poured out our hearts and souls into both winning football games and making a positive impact in our community.

'This community graciously embraced not only me but my family and in some ways helped raise our children over the last 9 years. For that I say thank you to all of the teachers, coaches, and friends whom we met along the way...the City of Good Neighbors! We Love You! We will miss Buffalo.

'Bills Mafia, you are one of one! It has been a joy and inspiration to witness your passion and commitment first hand. I always wanted our teams to play with the same level of toughness and grit that is true to Buffalo and that you demonstrate every day!

'God gave me and my family an incredible opportunity, one that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Yet we know that HE has a plan. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your head coach.'

According to some reports, his fate was sealed FIVE weeks before the playoff loss to Denver. McDermott is said to have met with Bills owner Terry Pegula and the team's general manager Brandon Beane, during which McDermott "pointed out what the roster lacked to win a Super Bowl." That assessment did not appear to go over too well with neither Pegula nor Beane pleased with his comments, according to the report.

I have no doubt McDermott will be a head coach somewhere else soon and be a success.

 

[Steve]

The Tennessee Titans are finalising an agreement with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to become the franchise's next head coach, a league source confirms.

Saleh, 46, previously served as the head coach of the New York Jets from 2021 until his firing midway through the 2024 season. He compiled a 20-36 record over three-plus seasons with the Jets, with zero playoff appearances. Saleh spent the remainder of the 2024 season as an offensive consultant for the Green Bay Packers before returning to San Francisco in 2025 for a second stint as the 49ers' defensive coordinator.

 

[Steve]

The Miami Dolphins have agreed to a deal to hire Jeff Hafley as the team's next head coach, the team announced Monday. Hafley will become the 12th full-time head coach in franchise history.

Hafley has served as the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator for the past two seasons after spending the previous four years as the head coach at Boston College. His Packers teams boasted the 11th-ranked defense over the past two seasons at 313.2 yards allowed per game, while ranking ninth in rushing defense, ninth in Defensive EPA and 11th in passing defense.

 

[Steve]

Let's not forget, they had an awful spell under various coaches before McDermott, and there is a danger they struggle again.

From what I've read, they have a 3-man list - Joe Brady, Brian Daboll, and Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator Davis Webb.

 

[Birdman]

I think firing McDermott now is a shocking decision by the Buffalo Bills. And to fire him but promote Brandon Beane is even more shocking. I didn't always think he got it right and change may work out for the better, but I just don't see it with what is available it terms of coaches they could hire.

Some takes from the news conference by owner Terry Pegula

"I looked around, first thing I noticed was our quarterback with his head down, crying," Pegula said in his initial remarks. "I looked at all the other players. I looked at their faces and our coaches. I walked over to Josh. He didn't even acknowledge I was there. First thing I said to him, I said, 'That was a catch.'"

"I did not fire coach based on a bad officiating decision," Pegula said. "If I can take you into that locker room, I felt like we hit the proverbial playoff wall year after year – 13 seconds, missed field goal, the catch. So I just sensed in that locker room, like, 'Where do we go from here with what we have?' And that was the basis for my decision."

"I go back to 5-2-3-2-2-2-6 (Bills' seedings since 2019)," Pegula said. "Great roster, good coaching, no Super Bowl appearance. I can't emphasise it enough. If I could put you all in that room after the game, it's like, 'How do we overcome this?' It's been one year after another."I just couldn't see us doing that with Sean. That's why I relieved him. It's not an easy decision, trust me, with that success. But what is success? Is success being in the playoffs seven years in a row with no Super Bowl appearance?"

Asked a follow-up question about why Beane deserved a promotion, Pegula paused a beat.

"That was my decision. I could be wrong, but it was success with the players. I don't know if anybody knows it in this room, but Josh Allen wouldn't be here if it wasn't for this guy," Pegula pointed to Beane, "pushing and pushing and pulling a Houdini in that draft to get to a position where we could pick him. So that was my decision."

When Beane was asked about the lack of top-tier wide receivers on the roster, including the decision to draft Keon Coleman, who has been disciplined three times since Buffalo drafted him in the second round in 2024 and has not materialised as a reliable target for Allen, Pegula interjected.

"I'll address the Keon situation," Pegula said. "The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon. I'm not saying Brandon wouldn't have drafted him, but (Coleman) wasn't his next choice. It was Brandon being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff, who felt strongly about the player. He's taken, for some reason, heat over it and not said a word about it. But I'm here to tell you the true story."

About 25 minutes later, Beane attempted to clarify that Coleman was his pick and he stood behind it, but at that point, the damage had already been done.

"He was my pick. I made the pick," Beane said. "Terry's point was that we might've had a different order of personnel versus coaching, and I went that way. But ultimately, I'm not turning in a pick for a player that I don't think we can succeed with. So don't misunderstand that. Keon Coleman is a young player that has been here two years, has two years left on his deal. It's up to us to work with him and develop him.

"His issues have not been on the field. It's been maturity things that he owns; I give him credit. He doesn't make excuses, which I appreciate. He busted his tail and had a great offseason. He had an excellent camp, no matter who he went against. Made a bunch of plays. The Ravens game, he ends up with 100-whatever yards and you're right: 'Man, this kid's going to take off.' But some of the maturity stuff got in the way, and you can naturally lose confidence in teammates or coaches, and that's understandable."

I think things could go south for Buffalo pretty quickly if they don't get this right - we could be looking at a team in the wilderness and wasting what is left of Josh Allen's prime years.

Would McDermott still have his job if Josh Allen hadn't cried? I find that a bizarre statement from Pegula along with the Coleman claim.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sean McDermott is the next Las Vegas Raiders head coach.

 

[Bob the Ninja]

I wonder what Josh Allen will make of that?

Terry Pegula would be better off staying silent!

 

[Steve]

More on a bizarre and shocking press conference from the Buffalo Bills owner that has divided the fanbase.

NFL  Terry Pegula Press Conference: Bills' Coaching Change

22 Jan 2026

The recent press conference held by Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane following the firing of head coach Sean McDermott was certainly a moment fans won't soon forget. This decision marked a significant turning point in the franchise's trajectory, given McDermott's successful tenure that saw eight playoff appearances in nine seasons. However, the reasoning and execution behind this change raised numerous questions and concerns.

During the 53-minute press conference, Pegula's emotional response to the locker room's atmosphere after a devastating playoff loss...

• Steve
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Talk Sport

 

[Dylan]

From what I've read, they have a 3-man list - Joe Brady, Brian Daboll, and Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator Davis Webb.

Joe Brady? My take was that the Bills' unimaginative offense was a big part of the Bills' failures the last few years.