Sean McDermott to Tampa Bay?
That was the hope of the Buccaneers this offseason after Fox Sports reported Wednesday that the team connected with the fired Bills coach about potentially joining head coach Todd Bowles’ staff.
Despite the interest from the Buccaneers — the first team linked to McDermott following his shocking Buffalo ouster — the 51-year-old coach is “expected to take this year off and re-assess his options in 2027,” according to the report.
McDermott has ties to leadership within the Buccaneers’ organization, as he and general manager Jason Licht worked together in Philadelphia in the early 2000s.
McDermott was fired from the Bills this month after nine seasons at the helm.
He was axed after the Bills’ latest postseason heartbreak, a 33-30 overtime loss to the Broncos in the divisional round. The defeat put McDermott at the 8-8 mark in the postseason.
Much like the Bills, the Buccaneers have been retooling following a disappointing 8-9 campaign, in which they failed to clinch their sixth consecutive NFC South title and a playoff berth.
The Buccaneers fired offensive coordinator Josh Girzzard after just one season. They hired Zac Robinson away from the rival Falcons to assume the role.
The Bills have also moved on since McDermott’s firing, elevating offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach.
The decision to move on from McDermott did not sit well with Bills Mafia, with criticism coming from players and fans alike.
Buffalo was one of 10 head coaching vacancies this offseason, joining the Giants, Browns, Dolphins, Ravens, Steelers, Falcons, Titans, Raiders and Cardinals.
Arizona and Las Vegas are the two remaining openings, with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak emerging as a top choice for both.
