Buffalo Bills fans unite to bring former head coach Sean McDermott back just days after his dismissal

Maria Maisonet, a Buffalo Bills fan for over 40 years, started the petition titled Reinstate Sean McDermott to the Buffalo Bills. She filed it on Change.org three days ago. In her petition, Maisonet states that firing Sean McDermott seems like a step backward, negating all the progress made under his guidance.The petitioner calls the decision short-sighted, overlooking his contributions and the respect he commands among players and fans. She states that McDermott’s expertise, dedication, and passion are unmatched, and dismissing him undermines not only his work but also the goodwill he has built within the team and the community.At the end of the petition, Maisonet asks everyone to join her and other dedicated Buffalo Bills fans in calling for Sean McDermott’s reinstatement: Sign this petition to show the team’s management that firing him was a mistake and that bringing him back is crucial for the continued success of our Bills.As of this publication [01/23/2026], over 45K fans have signed the petition. Maisonet listed the Decision Makers as Kim Pegula, Terry Pegula, and Buffalo Bills Management. She says firing McDermott left her feeling “heartbroken and baffled.”She calls the coach a “strategic mastermind behind our team’s recent successes” and an “inspiring leader with a deep commitment to the Buffalo community.” She states that the longstanding head coach “revitalized the team’s performance and reignited the passion of the fans.”As of January 24, 67K fans have signed the petition.Maisonet told WIVB News 4 she created the petition after realizing McDermott would not get the chance to coach in the new stadium [New Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park], set to open for the 2026 season.“I think that they should have gave him another chance, especially with the new stadium opening up,” Maisonet said. “I feel like they should have at least let him be a coach for another year at the new stadium.”“My decision to bring in a new coach was based on the results of our game in Denver. I did not fire Coach [McDermott] based on a bad officiating decision,” Pegula said at Wednesday’s press conference.“If I can take you into that locker room, I felt like we hit the proverbial playoff wall year after year: 13 seconds, missed field goal, the catch. So, I just sensed in that locker room, where do we go from here with what we have? That was the basis for my decision.”McDermott was fired on January 19, two days after losing the NFL Divisional Round to the Denver Broncos.The Athletic's Mike Sando reported that it seemed impulsive, unnecessary, and damaging when Terry Pegula defended general manager Brandon Beane by blaming coaches for drafting wide receiver Keon Coleman. But Pegula was doing his job when he surveyed the devastation in the Bills' postgame locker room at Denver and decided enough was enough. Whether McDermott deserved to be fired was not the issue. The key was whether the team needed new leadership.In late January 2026, the Bills hired someone working under McDermott for years: Joe Brady. They promoted him from his offensive coordinator role to McDermott's role. He signed a five-year contract.