01/20/26 03:54:00
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01/20 15:53 CST In the NFL, winning seasons and playoff appearances don't
always equate to job security
In the NFL, winning seasons and playoff appearances don't always equate to job
security
By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer
Winning isn't everything. Winning the Super Bowl matters most.
Sean McDermott became the latest coach to learn that harsh reality when the
Buffalo Bills fired him after falling short in the playoffs for the seventh
straight season.
McDermott led the Bills to the playoffs eight times in nine seasons, but they
didn't make it past the AFC championship game, losing twice to Kansas City.
Now, Buffalo looks for a coach who can help the franchise capture its first
Lombardi Trophy.
McDermott turned the Bills into a perennial contender, but couldn't secure that
elusive Super Bowl victory so he's out. It happened to Tony Dungy in Tampa Bay,
John Fox in Denver, Andy Reid in Philadelphia, among many others.
John Harbaugh was fired two weeks ago after missing the playoffs despite a
successful, 18-year run in Baltimore that included winning one Lombardi. He
quickly landed with the New York Giants.
Doug Pederson was fired by the Eagles following one losing season that came
after three straight playoff appearances, including the franchise's first Super
Bowl title.
Marty Schottenheimer was fired by the Chargers after the team went a
league-best 14-2 in 2006 but lost in the divisional round.
Ultimately, it comes down to winning the biggest prize. There are only 32 head
coaches in the NFL and not a lot of job security.
McDermott's abrupt dismissal opens an attractive vacancy in Buffalo. The next
coach inherits 2024 AP NFL MVP Josh Allen, who is one of the best quarterbacks
in the NFL. Running back James Cook was the NFL's rushing champion. The defense
was No. 1 against the pass.
There's plenty of talent on the Bills. But the team needs to find the missing
piece. It's not just the head coach. General manager Brandon Beane, who was
also promoted to president, needs to give Allen more playmakers. The Bills lack
an elite wide receiver. It's been their primary need since Stefon Diggs was
traded to Houston after the 2023 season.
Stroud's future
C.J. Stroud threw four first-half interceptions in Houston's 28-16 loss to New
England in the divisional round and the Texans failed in their seventh bid to
reach the AFC championship game.
After winning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, Stroud has
regressed. Still, he's led the Texans to playoff wins in each of his first
three seasons.
The Texans need to give Stroud more help. The offensive line struggled and the
run game was nonexistent. Stroud was also missing standout receiver Nico
Collins against the Patriots and lost tight end Dalton Schultz early in the
game.
"The quarterback position is going to get the most eyes, most attention. We
understand that," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "In this league, that's what
it is. C.J. understands that as well. Throughout the season, I thought he did a
really nice job of coming in and learning a new offense, new scheme. I thought
he picked it up well. We got better as the season went along and he made some
plays to allow us to win a lot of football games as well. I'm not going to let
the bad plays there in that game (against the Patriots) dictate to me who C.J.
is. I know who C.J. is. I know what he's capable of doing.
"We just keep looking to get better. No one feels worse about the situation
than C.J. He feels bad for the team. He feels like he let the team down, and I
just told him, ?Keep your head up and you keep moving forward.' We all want it
better. We can't go back in that game right now and run it back and play it
again. We just learn from it. What do you learn from it? That's my main message
to him is, what do you learn from that and how do you make that a priority and
getting it fixed and improving and getting better?"
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