The Buffalo Bills announced Jan. 19 they had fired Sean McDermott after nine seasons in charge of the team.
Buffalo’s decision did not sit well with one of their veteran defensive players, Jordan Phillips.
Phillips – a 33-year-old defensive tackle – posted to his Instagram story to express displeasure with the team’s decision.
‘This (expletive) here is so stupid,’ Phillips wrote, posting a caption over a breaking news graphic regarding McDermott’s firing. ‘Honestly sickening. The best coach I’ve ever been around.’
Phillips would know a thing or two about the coaching landscape around the NFL. The 11-year veteran has bounced around since being a second-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2015 NFL Draft, playing for five different NFL teams and six different full-time coaches.
Phillips has had three separate, two-season stints with the Bills and enjoyed his most productive NFL campaign – a 9.5-sack season in 2019 – under McDermott’s tutelage.
While Phillips was among McDermott’s fans, Bills owner Terry Pegula stated his belief the team needed ‘a new structure’ in a statement announcing the 51-year-old’s firing.
‘Sean has done an [admirable] job of leading our football team for the past nine seasons,’ the statement read. ‘But I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia.’
‘Sean helped change the mindset of this organization and was instrumental in the Bills becoming a perennial playoff team. I respect all the work, loyalty and attention to detail he showed for this team and the community.’