Sean McDermott is currently the head coach for the National Football League (NFL)’s, Buffalo Bills. Before taking up that position, Sean served as Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator for six seasons, he led the team to finish in the top ten in overall defense four times in a row (2012-2015).
The team also reached the Super Bowl 50 and Sean McDermott was named the second runner-up to the Defensive Coordinator of the Year award by Pro Football Focus in 2015. Before landing the job as Buffalo Bills’ head coach in 2017, Sean had been interviewed by several other franchises for the same position.
His first interview for the position of an NFL coach was with the Washington Redskins in 2013. He was scheduled for another one with the New York Jets in 2015 but the interview was canceled and the franchise would later hire coach Todd Bowles.
He has been the interviewee in similar scenarios with the Cleveland Browns, the San Diego Chargers, and the San Francisco 49ers. Here’s all you need to know about the head coach, his bio, wife, family, career, salary, and other fascinating facts.
Sean McDermott Biography
Sean was born in Omaha, Nebraska on the 21st of March 1974. He attended La Salle College High School where he played high school football and was named All-Southeastern Pennsylvania as a defensive back in 1992.
He graduated from high school in 1993 and proceeded to the College of William and Mary where he also played, this time as a safety. He was a 1997 all-conference safety and also received Academic all-conference honors two times in a row (1996 and 1997). He is equally the recipient of NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-America.
Coaching Career
McDermott began his coaching career in 1998 as a scouting administrative coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles. After one year in that position, he became an assistant to the head coach. He then served as a defensive quality control coach, then as an assistant defensive backs coach.
In 2003, he became a defensive backs coach after which he had the privilege of seeing two of his starting safeties (Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins) earn their first Pro Bowl berths. Dawkins would later earn two more Pro Bowl berths, two years in a row (2005 and 2006).
In 2007, Steve Spagnuolo moved over to the New York Giants as a defensive coordinator, leaving his post as Linebackers coach vacant for Sean McDermott to fill in. The following year, he was named the secondary for the second time. In early 2009, he became an interim defensive coordinator due to Jim Johnson’s leave of absence, as a result, of his deteriorating health.
When Jim’s health wasn’t improving, Sean replaced him as s full-time defensive coordinator – that was before Johnson’s death in July 2009. The Eagles relieved Sean of his duties in January 2011, two days later, he was hired by Carolina Panthers as their defensive coordinator.
During his tenure as Panthers’ defensive coordinator, McDermott led the team to finish top ten in overall defense for three consecutive seasons. In 2015, the team reached the Super Bowl 50. In 2017, the Buffalo Bills hired him as their 22nd head coach. The team won the game with a 21–12 victory over the New York Jets, and Sean became the third franchise head coach to win his first game.
Sean McDermott Salary
The salaries of NFL coaches are not made public for everyone to know the way those of players are publicized and the best way to say what coaches earn is usually to give an estimated figure based on data provided by some sources. Unfortunately, in the case of Sean McDermott, there isn’t even an estimated figure to give. Therefore, his earnings remain a mystery.
Sean McDermott’s Wife, Family
Coach Sean McDermott has been happily married to his wife Jamie McDermott for years. The beautiful Mrs. McDermott who is five years younger than her husband was born on the 25th day of June in 1979. The couple is blessed with two adorable kids; a son and a daughter named Madeline.
Other Facts
Sean is from a family of football lovers. He obviously took over from his father Rich McDermott who also coached football, although not at the NFL level. Rich was a former coach at Ursinus College.
His Brother Tim also played football both at the high school and college levels. According to the NFL coach, he has always loved being around the game and knew from an early age that he would end up as a coach.
