Buffalo Bills $10bn owner throws receiver under bus in desperate bid to justify Sean McDermott firing

In an extraordinary Buffalo press conference, Bills owner Terry Pegula did not hesitate to shift blame after firing Sean McDermott.

The smoke has barely cleared from the Bills’ latest playoff heartache, yet an inferno of organizational discord seems to be unfolding.

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In a media conference intended to explain the firing of one of the most successful coaches in the franchise’s modern era, Pegula instead took a flamethrower to his own roster and the integrity of his front office.

Just 48 hours after relieving McDermott of his duties, Pegula stood before the media alongside general manager Brandon Beane on Wednesday.

He appeared to deflect blame for the team’s questionable draft decisions, most notably rookie receiver Keon Coleman and implicitly, the coaching staff.

“The coaching staff pushed to pick Keon [Coleman],” Pegula said.

“That was Brandon Beane being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player. He’s taken the heat over it, and not saying a word about it. I’m here to tell you the true story.”

The more unexpected development wasn’t necessarily McDermott’s firing, but Buffalo’s decision to not only retain general manager Beane but elevate him to president of football operations.

Pegula’s comments towards the coaching staff felt like a pre-emptive strike to justify McDermott’s firing and Pegula’s promotion, while throwing shade at Coleman.

It’s no secret the second-round pick from 2024 has been a major disappointment, but seeing an owner publicly throw both his former head coach and a player who remains on the roster under the bus is shocking — and not something you see every day.

Coleman’s immediate impact has been lukewarm.

Pegula’s remarks suggested that the coaching staff strongly advocated for Coleman’s selection, with Beane simply giving the nod and green light.

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By pinning the failure of a high-value asset like Coleman on the former coaching staff, Pegula is attempting to insulate Beane from the draft-day blunders that have left Josh Allen with a depleted arsenal.

Coleman still has two years remaining on his four-year, $10 million rookie contract although after Pegula’s comments, could he soon be on the move?

He struggled with disciplinary benchings and consistency during the 2025 campaign and now has to walk into a locker room knowing his owner publicly viewed his selection as a mistake “forced” upon the front office.

Coleman may not be in Buffalo for much longer.

The irony in all this is that the blame Pegula sprinkled around onto the coaching staff also includes offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who is currently a top candidate to replace McDermott.

The logical disconnect is staggering: Pegula is trashing the talent-judgment of the very people he may be about to promote.

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The message out of Buffalo seems to be clear: Beane is the golden boy and McDermott is the fall guy for supposed roster deficiency.

McDermott’s assessment of a talent poor line-up around Allen is not believed to have sat well with ownership.

Now, by framing the Coleman pick as a “coaching push,” Pegula is trying to erase the paper trail of a front office that has struggled to find a true WR1 since the departure of Stefon Diggs.

As the Bills enter the 2026 coaching search, candidates will surely be looking at Pegula’s comments with a wary eye – although the prospect of working with Allen may prove too tempting for many.

The Bills have already begun their search, and former OC Brian Daboll is among the first names requested for interview.

Jaguars OC Grant Udinski and Colts DC Lou Anarumo are also on that list as the Bills attempt to move on from an eighth successive postseason disappointment.

In Buffalo, it seems, if a draft pick fails, the coaches take the fall, the GM gets a promotion, and the owner will be more than happy to tell the world whose fault it really was.

That’s a tough way to live in this league.

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