Sean McDermott: Defensive Playcalling ‘Feels Natural’

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott will be returning to his roots with some defensive play-calling next season. 

Sean McDermott was a defensive coordinator for the Eagles under Andy Reid from 2009 to 2010. He then coordinated multiple top ten defenses under Ron Rivera in Carolina from 2011 to 2016.

The organization has opted not to replace former defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who departed in February. Sean McDermott feels confident enough in his defensive staff to work with them and juggle dual roles next season.

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“First and foremost, we’ve got a really good staff on the defensive side, and the offensive side, special teams as well. But I wouldn’t be able to do this without a really strong staff on the defensive side in particular,” McDermott said. 

“It’s almost like you’ve got to have kind of a two-track mind. One as a head coach, and then also as a defensive coordinator. But it’s been great to this point. I was excited yesterday to get in the room a little bit, that group, the defense, and kind of rolling up my sleeves and getting back to wearing that hat again. So I’m excited about it.”

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“It’s part of how I got here,” he said of calling plays. “So I just think being in the defensive staff room, having those critical conversations that come up, solving problems, trying to evolve where we need to evolve, and where the game is going. 

And then working hand in hand with our players. Again, that’s been mostly the assistants to this point. Then together with the staff figuring some things out and it just feels good. It feels natural. And we’ll see where it goes in the future.”