Bills' Sean McDermott Dealt Reality Check In Latest Coach Rankings

There is no denying that Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has transformed the franchise into a winning juggernaut in the regular season since taking over in 2017.

An 86-45 record, which includes the last five AFC East titles, all point to a coach who knows how to win. 

But there is a big thing missing - that playoff run.

Last season, Buffalo made it to the AFC Championship game for just the second time under McDermott's watch, and they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs...again. 

And that is a significant reason why, according to Pro Football Network, when ranking the top head coaches in football, McDermott sees himself outside the top 10, coming in at No. 11.

"There’s no doubt that McDermott knows how to win," Pro Football Network writes. "However, the Bills have continued to fall short in January. They’ve won a playoff game in five straight postseasons but have no Super Bowl appearances to show for it.

"Knocking off Mahomes and the Chiefs is a tall task, but at some point, something has to give. If McDermott can’t break through, it could soon be time to find someone who can."

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott.

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

We don't disagree.

In the 14 playoff games he's coached, McDermott is 7-7, and Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are responsible for the last four. So it is clear that Sean has to do if he is to be seen as one of the elite coaches in football.

Yes, he has built the Bills into what they are now, a regular-season beast, but after several years of knocking on the door, something has to give.

And if he can't deliver that first-ever Super Bowl trophy in 2025, then a tough conversation might need to be had, especially if the Chiefs are the reason Buffalo's season ends.

But do break through that playoff ceiling, and McDermott will likely be easily seen as a top-10 coach in football.