The Buffalo Bills have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL over the last few years. They have turned themselves into perennial contenders as the franchise took a turn for the better in 2017.
That is when general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott were both hired. Both had been members of the Carolina Panthers, as Beane was in their front office from 1998-2017 in different roles and McDermott was their defensive coordinator from 2011-2016.
They have been with the Bills now for six years and that is a partnership that will continue for the foreseeable future. On Friday, both Beane and McDermott signed extensions with the franchise through 2027, keeping them under contract for at least four more years beyond this one.
Becoming the new regime in Buffalo has been fruitful for both of them, as they have had a big part in turning things around. In 2017, their first season together, they helped the Bills end their 17-year playoff drought, earning a Wild Card spot that year.
After suffering through a losing season in 2018, the Bills were able to land quarterback Josh Allen in the 2019 NFL Draft, which has set the franchise on its current trajectory. Allen has developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and the team has taken off.
Beane has hit plenty of home runs as general manager, with the acquisition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs in 2020 highlighting the bunch. Star players have been drafted and he has done a wonderful job bringing in talent in free agency, such as Von Miller last year.
McDermott is already third on the Bills’ all-time list for wins with a record of 62-35. He has a good chance to pass Lou Saban, who had 70, this season for second place with Marv Levy way ahead in first with 123.
The only thing that Beane and McDermott are missing in their tenure is playoff success. They are only 4-5 in six seasons, but that is a big turnaround from how things were for most of the previous two decades.
Sooner or later, the Bills are hoping to get over that hump. They certainly have the talent to do so as Beane has put together one of the best rosters in the NFL for McDermott to coach.
