‘I bleed for that win:’ Our 1 on 1 with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott

Is this the year? The Bills, again, have a legitimate shot to reach the Super Bowl. Go Long sits down with Sean McDermott, the man who's always been central to everything in Orchard Park.

Illustration by Brave Buffalo

ORCHARD PARK, NY — All playoff pain on your mind is on his mind. Sean McDermott doesn’t hide those losses deep into his subconscious. He cannot pretend like those games never happened. Bury “13 Seconds” and the rest of those defeats or use them? Before the question is even finished, he interjects — “no way” — and pops off a leather chair to grab something at his desk on the other side of his office.

When he returns, McDermott is clutching a thick packet of papers stapled in the left corner: his 2024 postseason plan. Flipping through the pages, he lists off a slew of sections: “mindset,” “the game,” “distractions,” “first-round bye,” “Super Bowl.” The printed notes are curated with immense detail. All of this serves a simple purpose. The 50-year-old head coach believes it’s his duty to prepare players for every conceivable scenario on and off the field they could encounter.

This thought brings to mind one conversation with Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson, one that McDermott labels an enlightening moment this year. Sanderson, the former Olympian, told him that he became a better head coach when he realized being the head coach wasn’t all that important. That is, it’s best to think: What do they need from me right now? So, that’s McDermott’s compass. He tries to fill in gaps, tries to serve a “Dad”-like role and guide 53 players the right direction.

Outside, the wind’s whistling. Bitter cold is in the forecast. Darkness blankets all of Western New York well before dinnertime through the month of January. An ominous day-to-day backdrop to the anxiousness giving locals goosebumps. Another sterling regular season is complete. Another playoff moment is imminent. McDermott is set to guide his seventh Bills team into the postseason and this group — again — has a legitimate shot to reach the Super Bowl. To win the Super Bowl. To bring a parade to Delaware Avenue and eternal happiness to an entire city.

This coach didn’t grow up in Buffalo but knows he’s become a Buffalonian to his core.

He takes it one step further. McDermott, a devout Christian, believes he was placed in this position as the team’s head coach for a “greater purpose.”

Imagining what a championship could do — for everyone — he pauses. He gets emotional.

“I bleed for that. I bleed for that win,” says McDermott, pointing to his chest. “And that’s real. What I want for people, for these fans, is for the true light to be shown on what this place really is.”

These Bills locked up their fifth straight division title by Dec. 1, the No. 2 seed by Dec. 29 and will now host the Denver Broncos in the AFC wild card round at Highmark Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. (EST). For the first time since 1990, Buffalo went undefeated at home. The head coach has won 66 percent of his regular-season games. That’s better than the likes of Andy Reid, Sean McVay, Mike Tomlin and, for good measure, a trio of icons from different eras: Bill Belichick, Joe Gibbs and Curly Lambeau. The force of nature at quarterback — 6-foot-5, 237-pound maestro Josh Allen — may become the third player in Bills history to win NFL MVP. The roster, assembled by GM Brandon Beane, is championship caliber. All fun. All worth celebrating. Yet, the same locals who were thrilled to see Buffalo eke into an “in the hunt” graphic on CBS in mid-December were slamming the “Simulate to Playoffs” button the morning after Patrick Mahomes pranced off their field in the divisional round last season. Expectations have changed.

Legacies are defined… now.

This team’s fate will be decided by the man seated right here.

Go Long wanted to get inside the mind of the man himself: Sean McDermott.

He’s not particularly animated. He doesn’t F-bomb through a testosterone-fueled postgame speech locker room, nor does he see much upside in delving deeper than the surface level at the podium. By design, this coach has been somewhat of a vague mystery to the public since his arrival on Jan. 11, 2017. Many others who’ve passed through this building obviously had a lot to say in our series one year ago. Now, it’s time to hear from McDermott.

The plan was to squeeze in 15 minutes last week. Most all head coaches are typically too busy to sit down at length in May. Let alone January. But once McDermott starts to open up, he keeps going, and going, and going — with candor. We chat inside his office for more than an hour. On one wall is a canvas print of McDermott and former Bills coach Marv Levy. Behind the desk is a written definition of the word, “Coach.” On his desk is a sign that perfectly encapsulates this moment: We didn’t come this far, to come this far.

Among the topics discussed…

• “Head space.” Years past, he’s seen how expectations become “a load of bricks” on his players’ shoulders. But how can a coach actively mold the psychology of a team?

• The next pressure-packed playoff moment. It’s inevitable. In a split-second, McDermott must push the right buttons with the game on the line. How does he plan to attack that moment? One criticism of the coach in the past was tightness in big moments. We get his perspective.

• Josh Allen. Of course, he says the QB should win the MVP. McDermott pinpoints what he has loved most about Allen’s game this year on and off the field.

• Big picture, McDermott explains why he believes what’s built at One Bills Drive is bigger than one quarterback.

• What makes this edition of the Bills more equipped to go all the way? McDermott does not hesitate with his answer.

• He doesn’t believe he’s gone through a metamorphosis, but this is also true: The Sean McDermott of old probably wouldn’t recognize the one doing snow angels with Allen on live TV. He opens up on his overall evolution as a coach — and what’s changed in 2024.

• How he’s trying to get this team to think positively, think “we’re going to win” in the clutch.

One desire never changed. It only gets stronger.

As you’ll see, this conversation gains steam when McDermott thinks about the people who call Buffalo home. Winning in this city has become personal. This day, so much runs through his mind. The sight of an old steel mill on Route 5. The conversations with parents at his kids’ sports games. The memory of one of his earliest speeches as this team’s head coach. Back in 2017, McDermott told players they could be a part of “the biggest turnaround in professional sports history.”

Once again, the Bills are just a few wins away from history.

Win it all and nothing in Buffalo will ever be the same again.

Our conversation is below.

Tell somebody on the outside that we’re sitting down like this, and they’d expect a cage match one year ago. The fact that we got to know each other (last offseason), I’ve been around the team this year, it says a lot about you. … I think there’s a natural impulse for anybody —coach or player — when something critical is written to go on the offensive. Declare it all “lies.” Outside looking in, it seems like you’ve been reflective. Your press conference in the moment was heartfelt. We sat down. How do you think you’ve evolved as a person and as a coach this past year?

McDermott: This to me should not be a story of, “Well, he was this and now he’s this” because of an article. And I’m not going to revisit the story. Enough was said about that.

I know who I am and I know how I’ve tried to lead this organization. Does that make me perfect? Absolutely not. So we can get on living or we can get on dying, and I feel strongly that, “OK, let’s make a connection so you can see who I really am and you can make your own judgments from there.” But the most important thing for me in my job is I know what everyone wants me to do and that’s to win a Super Bowl. And that is the most important thing for me. Second though, it’s trying to do this job the right way. Probably how you try to do your job for your family and do it the right way.

Last year or the years prior, my standard is my standard. And do I hold a high standard? Yes. But it starts with me. And when we lose, it’s really hard because I hold myself to a high standard. We’ve accomplished a whole heck of a lot here. I was reminded of the 2017 accomplishment last night and again this morning at the press conference. And that was just the start of what we’ve done since we’ve gotten here. And I think just then professionally and personally you grow year to year, and that’s what’s led me to where I’m at now.

You grow as a man. I grow as a man. Which also then helps me grow as a professional. But then you grow professionally as well because of the time you spend on the job.

At your season-ending press conference last year, you said this: “Mentally, go for it. Coach to win, play to win. That to me is a winner’s mentality. That’s a winner’s approach.” That all can just be words or words put into action. You have been putting that into action: believing in guys, coaching to win, playing to win. How have you managed to coach that way, day-in and day-out? What goes into the psychology of a team getting to this doorstep again?

McDermott: Well, I think that’s a great question and our players understand what our expectations are. And that was set early in the year of “Prepare, like the most prepared team in the NFL. At your position, be the most prepared player around the NFL week to week.” And then we’re going to get our heads in the right head spaces. Because that’s a challenge. Then, we’re going to get our level of play with those two things. If we prepare and we’re as focused as we need to be, then our level of play should give us a chance to win every game. Have we won every game? No. But I think we’ve more times than not checked both of those boxes where we’ve played at a level and we’re tough to beat. That also allows guys to become the best version of themselves. Because these guys, it’s not easy the life they live. It’s not easy the life that we as coaches live or anybody in this business. It’s a tough business. Unforgiving in a lot of ways.

So part of my job is trying to, in some ways, teach them how to think so that they can free themselves up to come out and kick a 62-yard field goal (against Miami). I’m not saying that’s on me. I’m not the reason why, but that’s Tyler Bass. That’s Josh Allen. Even more so now with the media presence, everything’s magnified. Social media. These players probably hear as much as people hope they hear. So how do you go perform hearing what they’re hearing without the fear of losing? To me, you have to be willing to lose in order to win at the highest levels.

But that is tough to pull off when you’ve got 53 moving parts. Is it a matter of being yourself — being authentic — and relating to guys day-to-day in a certain way? A lot of folks were surprised to see you out there doing snow angels with Josh. You do seem to be having more fun this year. Everything’s been looser.

McDermott: That’s the thing. I would say, maybe? But every Friday since the time I’ve gotten here, Friday’s been “Fun Friday” in team meetings. We play Madden, believe it or not. We tell jokes this year. We shoot hoops. Again, there’s perception and there’s reality over the years. Do I wake up more serious than some people? That’s by nature. Yeah, I’m driven. I probably wouldn’t have gotten this job if I wasn’t that way. Within that, yeah, there’s going to be moments of fun. What’s fun is also winning. You try to blend the balance of, “Hey, we’re having fun through the week, but darn it, we also better be prepared.” This league is tough. And I came up around Andy Reid. Early on, he was bumping his head against it a little bit but was very successful. Then he breaks out of Philly, gets to Kansas City and has the success he’s had since. You’re a product of your environment.

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Players I’ve talked to have said that for a while, too. Those Fun Fridays, guys did those Instagram Live concerts. I know you don’t want to rehash everything. I do want to give you the opportunity to respond. There were coaches who referred to you as “robotic” or “tight” and said it would manifest out there on the field. Is there anything to that? And is this an area where you’ve tried to evolve, grow, change over the years?

McDermott: I’ll just say this: I’m always growing and developing. When I was younger, I didn’t always love growing and developing and reading. When you talk about school age. … I know who I was then. And I also know who I am now. Am I perfect? No. But I’m trying to do the best job that I can and that’s all you can do.

You mentioned Andy Reid banging on the door for a number of years. He obviously was criticized in Philly. But he busted it down. He wins the Super Bowl. What’s the value in the resilience it takes to get back to this point again, and again?

McDermott: You try to learn every year: “Hey, are we doing things the right way?” We must be doing some things the right way in order to win five straight AFC East championships. Coming here to a place and winning our first year, making the playoffs. Nobody could do that for 17 years. And that’ll be one of my favorite teams of all-time because of the grit of that team and how much they bought into what we were doing and how we were doing it. Even just seeing Tyrod (Taylor) on the sideline this past week, I love him. He was our quarterback and did a phenomenal job of leading our team. And people want to say, “Well, they had Cincinnati. They caught a break.” Everybody catches a break in order to get in the playoffs in some way, shape or form. Our team this year caught a break. Certain teams lost. We clinched with five weeks to go. It just so happened one of the breaks we caught that year was the last game of the year. I’m extremely proud of that team. And then they went to Jacksonville. Even though we didn’t win, we gave ourselves a pretty darn good chance to win that game against the team that then beat Pittsburgh and lost in the AFC Championship Game.

When you’re doing things the right way, you always have to look under the hood. But you also have to stay within the belief of who you are and how you’re doing things. And then it’s like (pro golfer) Xander Schauffele. Eventually, you’ll break through. I believe that. And I think the belief piece is important. You mentioned Andy Reid. Xander Schauffele. I’m watching the World Series this year and they’re talking about the Dodgers and Doc Roberts — Hey, he’s come up short, come up short. He just won the World Series four years ago and he goes and wins it. It is what it is. Until you win it all, people can say what they want. Until you win it all. I know that we’ve had a tremendous amount of success at a place where people haven’t had success for a long time and we’ve been able to sustain it, which is hard to do.

Look, Josh has been a big part of that. There’s more to it than just Josh, though. How you come back every year and have that level of consistency has been impressive for our organization as a whole.

This was quite a building pre-Sean McDermott. You didn’t know what was going to happen day to day. So, what are those little things beyond a quarterback who might win MVP this year.

McDermott: He should win MVP. And me saying it goes beyond Josh is not slighting Josh at all. Just so we’re clear. It’s everyone. It’s the cafeteria. It’s the culture that’s built by the people in this building and it’s the resulting culture and environment that is made up of the people in this building. How we do things in the cafeteria. How we lift weights. How we meet today. How we handle a game like we’re going to play this weekend (at New England). Those are all those decisions that I have to make in leading our team. Brandon makes certain decisions on things and that partnership has been great. And then, of course, Terry (Pegula) and his influence on this organization. Having a good owner is also important — who supports you. Listen, he’s had a tremendous amount of success in a lot of areas in his life and he’s been a great resource for both Brandon and myself.

What is that dynamic really like between you, Brandon and Terry? Is the dialogue constant and how much input does Terry have on the football operation?

McDermott: He can say whatever he wants. He’s the owner, but I think someone asked me after the game, “How are the conversations going to go? Who has final say?” Well, I should have said “Ultimately, Terry can tell us who he wants us to play.” But he doesn’t really do that. He’s as much of a listener as he is one that speaks in those meetings and those interactions.

Terry was from the jump, too. He loved Patrick Mahomes in 2017 and didn’t Jerry Jones himself into the situation. I never asked you about that first draft.

McDermott: I’m not going there.

OK.

McDermott: There’s so many things in this job that you can’t speak on and me opening up that or other things, what’s it going to do for us? It’s going to cause a distraction. That’s part of the reason why I handle the media and my interaction with the media the way I do. Because I’ve learned under Andy that the best thing you can do is get your team focused on what it needs to be focused on and not create distractions week to week for your team.

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This year, in clutch moments, you have backed up that comment you made after the season on belief: Fourth and two right in that stadium, you didn’t flinch. Go for it. We have to stick the dagger in. We have to win this game — now. Even the way Josh is playing overall. That lateral in the snow. He has that thought in his brain: “This is OK.” That stemmed from you. What goes into creating an atmosphere where Josh can make these plays and play free-spirited?

McDermott: This is what we expect from ourselves. Let’s remember the offseason. I heard enough of “The Bills’ window has closed. They’re going to have to retool because of their salary-cap situation.” Yada, yada, yada. And expectations were kind of here. (Hand lowered) Wherever they were. Ballpark it. Well, what happens after you win, is expectations start doing this. (Hand raises) In 2022, we go to L.A. to open up the NFL season. We beat the defending world champs. We come back here and we beat Tennessee. All of a sudden, things were up here. You learn from every season. I remember some of the players walking through the hallway about Week 4, 5, 6, whenever it was, and they just looked like they were carrying a load of bricks on their shoulders. And I learned from that season. The weight of the expectations was weighing on guys. And another example of learning year to year of, “Hey, how can I be the coach that they need me to be?” They feel these things. They feel the weight of the expectations. Maybe not one week. But week after week after week. And what does it do? It makes ‘em not play to the best of their ability. And so it’s my job to try and free them up as much as I can. So one of my jobs — really the biggest job other than when I get involved in the offense, special teams or defense — is to get them in the right head space every week.

That’s easier said than done. How can you do that?

McDermott: I believe it goes back to very clear and simple expectations. (Counting on fingers) Be the most prepared team in the NFL. Be the most prepared at your position. Get yourself in the right head space. Get our level of play up to where it can be. And then you have to be able to live with the result. I hate that piece. (Holding pinky) Believe me, I hate it. I hate it. But if we’re going to say we’re about these three things, then this has to be variable unfortunately. Even though we all want to control it. Believe me, I want to control it. But in order for the players to buy in and believe what you’re saying, then you have to keep coming back to our level of play, which is directly impacted by our preparation and our head space.

Back to that fourth and 2. That belief in your offense, in Josh, that they’re going to find a way. “Spags” showed man and went back into zone. You can see Josh. He’s like, “OK, smash the buttons. Take off.” Is that part of getting guys into the right “head space?” Believing in them to make that play?

McDermott: I’ve always believed in our guys. Always. Every situation is different. There’s times, even this past week, I let the clock run down before half. We kick a field goal. I did that because even if we had converted on fourth and two, we would’ve only had X amount of seconds left to do anything with it had we converted before half. But you hear boo’s — “Boooo!” They want me to go for it every time. Listen, if I was in their seats, I’d be saying the same thing. But I have to do what I feel like is best for the team. And in that situation (vs. KC), I felt giving our team the best chance to win was going for it. And there is an element of, “I put in all the work. I know what I’m looking at in that moment. Plan for it. We’re going for it.” Up two, I have to be able to shoulder if we lose. Ultimately, that’s what happens. I know who I am and I know what is my ultimate goal for this organization. I’m doing everything I can to help us get there.

You make a decision in the moment late in the game, we can hyper-analyze it for months. And we do.

McDermott: That’s called resulting.

Minute left, fourth-down decision, the play clock is dripping down and you’ve got to make the right decision. How do you make time slow down in your head to get to that right decision that you can live with? Those are split-second moments and you’ve had a ton as the coach.

McDermott: Experience is important and a factor. Because when you come into these jobs, as much as you want to think that you’re ready and versed in those situations, you’re not. Even in Year 8 now, there’s some that have come up that we’ve never experienced. Even though we’ve planned for it. Every situation is almost separate of another situation.

Like a snowflake.

McDermott: Yeah. So to answer your question, the preparation piece is real. That helps slow the game down for anyone. But there’s also things that you don’t prepare for that come up and you learn from some things, too. In Year 8, you learn from some things and you’ve got to go back together. I have a group: the coordinators and Dennis Lock, who’s our analytics guy, and then Marc Lubick, who’s my main situations guy, and then we added John Parry, the retired official this year. We constantly talk. Tomorrow, Joe Brady, myself, Dennis and Mark Lubick will sit down and talk about this game and fourth downs. And then we get back together on Friday morning with that full group — everyone — and we’ll go back through it again. And then there’s some time between those meetings and the conclusion of those to the start of the game when I’ve got to fill gaps for myself: “What if this? What if that? What if that comes up?” And so when you’re in those situations, if it’s 50-50, “What are you doing, Sean?”

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There’s no substitute for that experience. When it comes to how seasons have ended — a playoff loss — do you try to just bury that forever? And never think of it?

McDermott: No way.

You use it.

McDermott: Let me show you. So you can see. (Grabs packet on his desk the other side of the room.) I’ll just show it to you. I can’t let you read it, but my assistant just put this… I had it all together, but he organized it. Playoff Notes. This is from all the years — “mindset,” “the game,” “distractions,” “first-round bye,” “Super Bowl.” It’s all the things over the years that — and then today at practice — we’re going through practice and I’m out there and I’m just like, “OK, let’s go back over in my head the key points that are going to come up next week that I want to make sure the team understands.” That, to me, is doing the best job. My job is to get these guys in the right spot to perform their best. And that includes Josh. I have to equip him. For some players, it is everything. For some, it’s just this. And it’s week-to-week sometimes. What do they need me to be for them this week? Do they need me to challenge ‘em? Do they need me to be there supporting them? Do they need some confidence? What do they need?

I think that’s also one of the enlightening moments this year for me. Yeah, I’m the head coach but what really is that? And I learned this from Cael Sanderson. Cael said to me — and it’s kind of a weird way to look at things, but it makes a lot of sense — but he said, “When I realized that being the head coach and what I did was not all that important, I became a better head coach.”

What does that mean?

McDermott: It makes sense from the standpoint of, me being the head coach, the way I’ve experienced it this year is: “What do they need from me right now? How can I fill the gaps for them or how can I stand in the gap for ‘em?” It’s like being a Dad. What do my kids, what does my wife need from me right now and how can I be that for them?

What is your relationship really like with Josh?

McDermott: It’s good.

How would you describe the dynamic with him through an MVP season?

McDermott: Man, it’s given me so much joy watching him this year lead our football team. His consistency has really helped our football team. He’s always made the play to Keon that he made this past week. He’s always made that play. He’s always attempted that throw. But I think there’s been less of those this year and his growth reflects that. Meaning, that’s a great play. But that could also go the other way, too. His growth and understanding of how you win in this league has led to his level of play. He continues to grow and mature. It’s like anything else. He understands how impactful his play is, but also his day-to-day leadership.

You don’t want turnovers. But he is playing like himself, to the max.

McDermott: But he’s also been very intentional about becoming a great decision-maker in the midst of being a great thrower. And I think what’s not being talked about enough. You’re talking about, what, six interceptions? You can try to not turn the ball over as a quarterback and you still turn it over. It goes back to being a great decision-maker. And I talked with Peyton (Manning) a few years ago and those are the words he used. You’ve got to be a great decision-maker. And that’s really what it is. He’s got the ball in his hands every play when we’re on offense. I applaud Josh. He has been very, very aware and intentional about being a great decision-maker.

That’s a tough balance. You don’t want to say too much, do too much, put too many thoughts in his head that might neuter his game: “Maybe I don’t want to follow Amari Cooper for a lateral or attempt that throw to Keon Coleman.”

McDermott: He’s done a phenomenal job. We met in the offseason when he came back here and we talked about his leadership with our team and he’s done a phenomenal job. He really has. His growth. And it’s not like he was bad before. It’s at another level this year — of his growth, his development, his consistency, and then his play. I mean, his play has been spectacular.

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I want to make sure Josh gets the credit that he deserves. And this is also why I’ve said what I said about the MVP because he deserves the MVP this year. And our consistency this year has a whole heck of a lot to do with his consistency. And he’s done a phenomenal job. His leadership this year has been a big factor for us. Big factor.

What kind of leader is he behind the scenes?

McDermott: He’s got the it factor and then his growth and maturation has helped him just like it has for me. You go through the years and you learn things: “Hey, what do I want to do? What do I want to replicate from the year before? What do I want to do differently?” His growth has been a big part of our success and his arm hasn’t changed. That’s not the growth I’m talking about. It’s his growth overall. And he’s incredibly competitive as everyone in the world knows. When he sets a goal for himself, multiple goals, he is steadfast in his determination.

What makes this team more equipped to get to the Super Bowl than the last five? I remember Brandon — we were talking in the spring — and I loved his analogy: Every team is a “chemistry experiment.” You’ve got different elements to fit together. Every team is different. What do you love about this group that gives you hope that this is the year the Bills break through?

McDermott: What I like about this team, and it’s not that the other teams didn’t have this trait, but the unselfish nature of this team stands out to me. And there’s a number of guys who really personify that trait on our team because it is hard. You’re talking about guys who all want the ball, who all want the credit for the sack. And I remember Ed Oliver saying to me a few weeks ago, I think Greg Rousseau may have gotten credited for a sack. That came up and Ed said, “I’ve gotten mine, I want Greg to get his.” In our society, man, this stuff — (Points to the back of his shirt with two thumbs) — is rampant. And so, it’s refreshing that we’re able to balance that as much as our guys do.

The “everyone eats” thing is real. That’s exactly what fed into the unknown of the 2024 Buffalo Bills. Out is Stefon Diggs, in is… who? Who’s catching the ball here?

McDermott: It goes back to two things. To me, the start of it is the culture that we have, and Josh Allen. The culture that we have, and Josh Allen. When I’m saying “the culture,” I’m also saying the coaching staff. Because there’s coaches, too, who are pretty ego-driven and “We’ve got to do this. We’ve got to do that.” And our coaching staff has been very collaborative. Work well together. And, hey, the ball’s going to go to the open player. Everyone takes a lot of pride in their own position as well but our guys do a great job of figuring out how to win games week to week. And then Josh, like I said, he is intent on playing the position. He has played it as well this year, if not better, than he has played it in the years before. He has played it extremely well this year. (Note: In Week 18, the Bills became the first team in league history to total 30 passing touchdowns and 30 rushing touchdowns in a season.)

Is there a misconception out there about you? Something you want people to know about you — as a coach, as a person, as the one trying to bring the Lombardi Trophy here? And you mentioned ending The Drought. I can still remember when Tyler Boyd caught that touchdown (for Cincinnati). Out in East Aurora, there were grown men crying at the bars just because the team got to the playoffs.

McDermott: I was crying on my couch last night. My wife said, “Do you know what today is the anniversary of?” I said, “No.” And she said the Miami win in 2017. And I’m close with Kyle (Williams) still and his family So she started showing me the replay and tears are running down my cheek. I was like, “I’m good, I’m good.”

I can’t imagine what it’d be like.

McDermott: This is who I am. I want to do this job the right way. I’m super competitive. I’m super driven. What’s most important to me is doing this job the right way because that’s what’s left. The wins and losses, yes, they’ll be there in the books. But for me, as a man of faith, not that I’m perfect, but I’m trying to go about my business the right way so people see something different in this team and in the person that leads this team on the field.

And that to me is the greater purpose as to why I was brought here. I believe that.

I bleed for that. I bleed for that win. And that’s real. What I want for people, for these fans, is for the true light to be shown on what this place really is. On Buffalo and Western New York. I mean, I’m watching the pregame of the World Series in here and they have — whatever panel they had up there — they’re talking about teams that have come up short. And it’s a baseball game now and I’m just a fan of process, and I’m listening to it. And then next thing you know, I’m going back to work and I don’t have my TV on much. They said, “It’s like the Buffalo Bills of the early 90s.” And that gets me here. (Points to heart) I wasn’t here then. But I’ve become a part of this — we, my family — have become a part of this town and this community. And that bothers me.

That’s why I want it so bad for these people. Because people don’t know. That’ll never be done again. Four straight Super Bowls. I understand that they were losses. But that’ll never be replicated again. At least in my lifetime.

But for Buffalo to be known that way, if that’s how we’re known? That’s why I want to win right there. Because I want the true light to be shown on Buffalo and what this place is really about. Like I said earlier, that 2017 playoff clinch, I don’t think people have seen a locker room like that since then. You know what that was, Tyler? That was freakin’ heart. That was grit. That’s who I am. And that was a bunch of overcomers. And I’m not saying our team is a bunch of overcomers now. That’s what Buffalo is. Blue-collar people who freakin’ work hard and all they’re trying to do is celebrate their sports teams. And the rest of the United States does not understand that. There’s a narrative about Buffalo and now I’m getting going here.

Keep going.

McDermott: The narrative is why do I put Tyler Bass out there to take that freakin’ field goal? It’s because we’ve got to be wired in a way that is “No, we’re not thinking about all the bad things that can happen. We’re going to win this game.” We have to be the leaders of thought inside this building and getting this community back to where it was years ago. That’s the greater purpose to me. So yes, it’s about winning. But it’s about so much more than winning. When I got here, I’m going to the kids’ games and the parent who’s my age, he’s saying, “Hey, my son plays with your son,” or “My daughter plays with your daughter. Hey, can you do me a favor and win so that my kid knows why I root for this team.” Because in their lifetime they haven’t seen this team in the playoffs.

And what happened on that TV? That guy doesn’t know Buffalo. We’re here for something much, much more than winning. When we got here in 2017, I said this in the team meeting, “Do you guys understand this could be the biggest turnaround in professional sports history?” Seventeen years. And it happened the first year. Look at the joy it brought to our community. So, I say all that if you really want to know what drives me and really want know who I am. I want to be able to say, “Hey, I did it the right way. And look at the hope and joy and hopefully a Super Bowl that we were able to bring to this town, this community.” And not because of anything else other than to say, “Look, this place is better because of it.” You see the steel mills driving down Route 5. This place is much, much more than people give it credit for.

The town is the team. The team is the town. The resilience of those ‘90s teams played into the revitalization. I don’t know how you connect Point A to Point B. It’s hope. It’s being inspired. It’s having a reason to get up in the morning. It’s being excited about something because it’s cold, it’s windy, it’s supposed to snow heavy today. I’m already wishing I popped over to Dunn Tire to get new tires. But that’s life for everyone here. You’ve got to deal with stuff day-to-day that the 31 other markets do not.

McDermott: Around the wall of the stadium, by the tunnel one of the things I asked for was a sign that says, “Welcome to Buffalo.” I thought that was important that people knew where they were playing. Because I think it’s just authentic. I really do. “Welcome to Buffalo.” For what that means for us as hometown people, but also what that means to the opponent.

***

This is who I am. You want to know who I really am. This is who I am. And I’ve been leading this team for the better part of eight years — Brandon and I together, and Terry — and try and do things right. Does it mean I’m perfect. No. But I think that with what we were able to accomplish in Year 1, it showed what type of coach I am, what type of person I am, and then what we’ve been able to do since then to sustain it? Hard to do. And through the ups and downs of salary cap and all the different things that have come up. So that’s who I am.

Bills pieces this season, icymi:

Q&A: Quintin Morris on TE position, 2024 Bills, Josh Allen, Amari Cooper, Chiefs and an NFL going soft

Killer instinct, found: Why this win matters for the Buffalo Bills

They're eating the cats: Reinvented Buffalo Bills offense makes a MNF statement

'What is he doing?:' Josh Allen remains Buffalo's cheat code

‘We’ll get it done:’ The Buffalo Bills enter the great unknown at wide receiver

The Buffalo Bills' psychological reset

Brandon Beane's message to KC is clear: Bring it on.

Smash the Window, Part I: ‘Don’t ever stop’