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Sean McDermott makes feelings clear on Joe Brady as Bills HC.

Former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott isn’t sure how Joe Brady will do as an NFL head coach.

Following another disappointing playoff exit for the Bills, Buffalo opted to fire McDermott, despite the team being a perennial playoff contender. However, the Bills felt they needed a new voice and promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach.

Ahead of the NFL Draft, McDermott went on The Insiders on NFL Network and was asked about Brady, and wasn’t sure how he’ll fare.

“I would say this, it’s hard for me to know, and I would say this about anyone who’s never done the job before, with all due respect to Joe in this case. It’s a different job; we can prepare all we want, having gone through it myself,” McDermott said.

“But it’s a different job than any job that leads to that job. Joe is a very talented coach, he’s a very talented play caller, and listen, what I saw in Joe in the four seasons he was with us, he’s going to do a good job, and I’m looking forward to watching him. I think he knows, and I hope he knows, that I’m always here if he needs anything.”

As McDermott noted, being an NFL head coach is a major change from offensive coordinator, so Brady will have to change his day-to-day. But, he does think Brady can do well as he is a smart mind, but he does believe there are challenges that will come with it.

Brady Thanked McDermott in Press Conference

After the Bills named Brady their new head coach, he spoke to the media and had plenty of positives to say about McDermott.

Brady praised McDermott for laying the foundation for this group and allowing the team to be a true Super Bowl contender for years.

“I wanna thank and recognize Sean McDermott. In 2022, four years ago, Coach McDermott gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I had an opportunity to come here, coach for the Buffalo Bills and coach Josh Allen. I took immense pride in that,” said Brady at his January 29 introductory press conference.

Brady, however, also admitted he is lucky for a first-time NFL head coach that he’s walking into a better spot than most first-time head coaches.

“I understand that I’m walking into this role in a much better position than Coach McDermott did. I’m not naive to that,” Brady added. “I also understand that the expectations are higher as well. I didn’t take this job to shy away from expectations.”

Brady served as the Bills’ offensive coordinator for two seasons and was the interim for half a season.

McDermott Plans to Coach Again After Bills Firing

Following McDermott being fired by the Bills, he planned to take a year off.

Although McDermott won’t coach in 2026, he said he ‘absolutely’ wants to coach again in the NFL.

“I love coaching,” McDermott said on The Rich Eisen Show before the NFL Draft. “Love it. I think (I miss) just being a part of something bigger, being a part of a team. I’ve been — we all have been — parts of teams since we were this tall, and you get a chance to do that for a job.

“And then now, you’re in a year where, for myself, it’s a year off, right? But it’s also a year of opportunity, in a lot of ways, to grow and lean in on my family, as we already talked about. But I think more than anything, it’s just being a part of a team.”

McDermott went 98-50 as the Bills’ head coach, but was 8-8 in the playoffs.