Bills sign head coach Sean McDermott to contract extension

The Buffalo Bills signed head coach Sean McDermott to a contract extension on Wednesday.

The Bills extended fourth-year head coach Sean McDermott on Wednesday, per the team, recognizing the 46-year-old’s tremendous work in returning the team to playoff contention and ensuring that a promising young mind will stay in Buffalo for years to come.

The multi-year extension is certainly well-deserved for McDermott, who boasts a 25-23 record as head coach and broke a 17-year playoff drought with two appearances in three years. The former Carolina defensive coordinator has built a formidable defense in Buffalo, and has gotten the most out of an extremely raw talent in quarterback Josh Allen.

News: #Bills signed head coach Sean McDermott to a multi-year contract extension.

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 12, 2020

With legendary New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady now in Tampa Bay, McDermott has positioned the Bills as the team to beat in the AFC East, and Kevin Clark of The Ringer pointed to his ability to build a winning culture in Buffalo as the main reason why.

The Bills are in an unfamiliar position as AFC East favorites

A well-deserved extension for Sean McDermott. I think he gets culture building as well as anyone. I think a lot about what he told me last season about why he wants feedback from his players on his coaching style, a la a 360 review, which isn’t common in sports. pic.twitter.com/ex5x7EEJVW

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) August 12, 2020

After so many years of organizational incompetence, Bills fans have to be thrilled to have some stability at head coach. Per CBS Buffalo reporter Heather Prusak, owners Kim and Terry Pegula feel the same way.

With the head coach now in Buffalo for the long haul, all eyes are now on general manager Brandon Beane’s contract extension. His strong draft record and ability to draw free agents like Pro Bowler Micah Hyde have been critical in the team’s return to prominence.

The Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers acted similarly this offseason, extending their head coaches and general managers in resounding votes of confidence regarding their organizational directions. Buffalo appears ready to do the same, with a resurgent fan base now expecting, rather than hoping, to make the playoffs.

The details of McDermott’s extension are reportedly for six years, per Adam Schefter, but he joins fellow 2017 coaching signings Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, and Anthony Lynn in receiving extensions. With another playoff appearance in 2020, he could begin to garner some (well-deserved) recognition as one of the league’s best young coaches.