The Buffalo Bills appear to have parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott after nearly a decade. The decision felt inevitable due to Buffalo’s inability to convert regular-season excellence into a Super Bowl appearance under McDermott’s tenure. After losing to the Broncos (irrespective of the overtime controversial call), the Bills recorded a seven-consecutive Super Bowl drought. 

“The Bills fired Sean McDermott, sources tell The Insiders,” reported Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

With the split now official, attention has quickly shifted off the field. McDermott’s contract status, remaining salary obligations, and total NFL earnings have become immediate talking points, as fans and insiders try to understand the financial fallout of Buffalo closing a long chapter.

Sean McDermott’s Contract Details With the Buffalo Bills

Sean McDermott’s tenure in Buffalo was backed by long-term contractual faith almost from the moment he arrived. Hired in January 2017 on a five-year deal through the 2021 season, McDermott quickly became the franchise’s most stable leadership figure in decades, snapping the Bills’ playoff drought in his very first year.

That trust only deepened over time. In August 2020, Buffalo rewarded McDermott with a six-year extension that pushed his deal through the 2025 season, and in June 2023, the Bills doubled down once again, extending both McDermott and GM Brandon Beane through 2027. The move cemented continuity at the top, but with no Super Bowl appearance to show for eight postseason trips, the contracts ultimately outlived the results.

How Much Was Sean McDermott’s Salary?

For nearly a decade, Sean McDermott was not just the face of the Bills’ sideline, but one of the league’s better-paid leaders. After signing an extension in June 2023 that tied him to Buffalo through the 2027 season, McDermott was reportedly earning close to $8 million annually. The deal symbolized trust, stability, and belief in a coach who had turned a long-suffering franchise into a perennial contender, even if the Super Bowl breakthrough never arrived.

Now, that same commitment has created financial ripples. With McDermott dismissed before the contract’s expiration, the Bills are expected to owe millions in remaining guarantees. The decision closes a lucrative chapter that leaves McDermott with an estimated net worth of around $20 million. For Buffalo, the reset is both competitive and costly. Unfortunately, it eventually became an expensive affair without a Lombardi Trophy to show for it.

Do the Bills Still Have to Pay Sean McDermott After the Firing?

The Bills do still have to pay Sean McDermott, and that reality adds another layer to Buffalo’s reset. McDermott was under contract through the 2027 season after signing a long-term extension in June 2023, a deal that reportedly paid him around $8 million annually. With his firing coming early, league estimates suggest Buffalo could be on the hook for roughly $16 million in remaining guarantees.

That financial commitment is proof that, once, the Bills were confident in McDermott as the face of their franchise. After snapping playoff droughts, winning multiple AFC East titles, and turning Buffalo into a perennial contender, the fans had much to rejoice about. But Super Bowl expectations changed the equation. Even as the Bills turn the page on-field, McDermott’s contract ensures his presence still lingers on the balance sheet.

With McDermott out, all eyes turn to Buffalo GM Brandon Beane, tasked with steering the search for the next head coach. Rumors are already swirling around former Bills offensive coordinator and ex-Giants head coach Brian Daboll. The next hire could define Buffalo’s championship window.