Five leading candidates to replace Sean McDermott as Buffalo Bills head coach

Earlier this week, the Buffalo Bills announced that they would be moving on from Sean McDermott as their head coach after nine years spent in charge. 

This followed a crushing 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, yet another playoff heartbreak for the 51-year-old and the unfortunate Bills' franchise.

McDermott led the team to seven consecutive divisional rounds, while winning five AFC East titles. He also had the best win percentage in Bills history and leaves as one of the most decorated coaches to ever grace Buffalo.

But with top choices going fast or already gone, GM Brandon Beane and the rest of the Buffalo Bills' front office must act quickly to find a replacement. What's more, they must get the appointment right if they are to take advantage of Josh Allen's window.

Here are five leading candidates that the Bills should target.

Watch every NFL playoff game on DAZN for only £9.99

DAZN's latest Game Pass deal gives you every NFL playoff game, right through to the Super Bowl, for only £9.99.

The offer drops ahead of the Conference Championships, as the Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots in the AFC title game, and the Los Angeles Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC.

In addition to every game, live or on demand, Game Pass also provides access to RedZone, NFL Network, and DAZN’s weekly original shows, including Downs 2 Business, Kittle Things, and X's & O's coaching breakdown.

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Klint Kubiak - Offensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks

Kubiak has transformed Seattle's offense since joining the team last January, turning it into a clinical, high-scoring unit. They boast the seventh most total yards gained this season and the third most points per game at 28.4.

And, after their Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers, where they put up 41 points on their divisional rival, Kubia's reputation has been elevated even further.

The way he's brought out the best in several of his players should appeal to Buffalo. Notably, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, in only his third season, is now a frontrunner for Offensive Player of the Year, after posting 600 more yards than last season.

Kubiak has achieved a similar improvement with Kenneth Walker III, whose rushing yards have doubled. Sam Darnold, too, has replicated his impressive 2024 season with Minnesota, becoming only the second-ever quarterback with successive 14+ win seasons and to pass for more than 4000 yards in consecutive campaigns.

If Kubiak were handed the keys to Josh Allen, a truly elite quarterback, one of the best running backs in the league, James Cook, and a deep wide receiver core, the sky would be the limit.

Joe Brady - Offensive Coordinator, Buffalo Bills

Brady has been with the Bills since 2023 and helped guide Allen to his second MVP and the Bills to their second consecutive AFC Championship game last season. 

Tailback Cook has been on fire, with 1,621 rushing yards, the most for a season in his career. Allen, too, has produced well despite having to deal with several injuries to his pass-catchers.

Brady knows the team; he knows the offense better than anyone, and he's well-liked within the franchise and the fanbase. That continuity counts for a great deal.

Bearing in mind that the Baltimore Ravens are requesting a second interview with him, the Bills should be wary and perhaps move fast if Brady is their guy.

Jesse Minter - Defensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Chargers

Minter is another coordinator garnering a lot of attention at the moment, with interviews for the Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and Cleveland Browns head coaching roles taking place over the last week. 

The Chargers' DC has a second interview lined up with the Ravens, highlighting the urgency the Bills have to act.

Under Minter, the Bolts rank fifth in fewest yards allowed per game, and despite losing in the Wild Card Round, they held Drake Maye and the New England Patriots to 16 points, sacking the 23-year-old five times and picking him off once.

Minter's Chargers ranked third in interceptions (19) and joint seventh in sacks (45). Bringing him in could even elevate the already impressive Bills' pass defense.

Aden Durde - Defensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks

The Middlesex-born coach has been with the Seahawks since 2024 and has completely transformed this unit into one worthy of the first seed in the NFC.

In 2023, before he joined Seattle, they conceded 23.6 points per game and allowed 370 yards per game. Now, the Seahawks have the best defense in points allowed per game (17.2), and gave up the sixth fewest yards (285.6 per game).

In the Seahawks two most recent games, their week 18 matchup and Divisional Round games, both against the San Francisco 49ers, Durde's defense was simply sensational. They conceded a combined nine points across the two games.

Durde is another terrific option to further strengthen this Buffalo defense and possibly get them that one step further in the postseason. 

Vance Joseph - Defensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos

With the offensive star power Buffalo possesses, a defensive-minded head coach might be the better play. If that's the case, Joseph would be a top option.

The 53-year-old has created a brick wall of a unit in Denver, one that has allowed the second fewest yards per game (278.2) and has the most sacks in the league with 68, 11 clear of second place. 

The Broncos also ranked as the second-best run defense in the regular season, only allowing 91.1 yards per game, which was the Bills' weakness on that side of the ball this year.

If Joseph was given the best passing defense in the league and could replicate some of the success seen in Denver, Buffalo would be a scary sight for any quarterback.