Bills players wanted to make something very clear Sunday night.
They had Sean McDermott’s back.
McDermott faced criticism last week after a report surfaced that he had used the 9/11 terrorists to try and motivate players during a 2019 training camp meeting.
The Bills coach said he apologized to the team that day and during a press conference Thursday he said he “regretted mentioning 9/11 in my message that day.”
But the current group had no problem standing by their coach following the report, and they blasted whoever leaked the story in the first place.
“I think that’s a bunch of bulls–t what they did to him,” defensive tackle Ed Oliver told reporters after the game. “That was five years ago, my rookie year. Whoever leaked, I think you’re a coward because everything is supposed to stay in house. So, I have his back on everything.
“I know he’s a great guy. … That’s some f–ked up s–t.”
The report about McDermott was published Thursday on Go Long, a Substack publication run by Tyler Dunne, on Thursday.
The detail was part of a larger three-part, 20,000-word series diving into the issues under McDermott, who’s been coaching in the organization since 2017. It delved into everything from McDermott’s leadership to his relationship with star quarterback Josh Allen.
Allen took issue with the way McDermott’s character had been portrayed.
“You can question a lot of things about coaching style,” Allen said. “You can question a lot of things about my decision-making. You can question a lot of things about this team, but to question his character and who is as a man, he’s one of the better humans on this planet.”
McDermott certainly felt the full weight of the support for him within the organization.
Even the Bills social media team had chimed in with a post after the Bills defeated the Chiefs, 20-17.
“We got your back, Coach!” they posted on X, along with his victory speech from inside Buffalo’s locker room.
“Speaking for myself, I’d do anything for that man,” Mitch Morse told reporters after the win as he told a story about what McDermott has meant to him.
All off this occurred during a crucial week for the Bills, who entered their matchup with the Chiefs at 6-6.
Buffalo pulled off the win Sunday night in part thanks to a bone-headed penalty by Kadarius Toney, who negated what would have been a go-ahead touchdown for the Chiefs late in the last two minutes.
