Sean McDermott's sudden availability presents a prime opportunity for the Cleveland Browns to secure a proven winner capable of transforming the franchise, as their next head coach
They say patience is a virtue. For the Cleveland Browns, being patient in their search for a new head coach may just pay off with an opportunity to lure in one of the best candidates available, who is suddenly a free agent.
On Monday, the Buffalo Bills announced their somewhat controversial decision to fire long-time head coach Sean McDermott. There had been speculation for several months now that Buffalo would potentially pull the trigger on such a move if another trip to the postseason fell short of anything but a Super Bowl run.
It's the curse of having a a top three quarterback in the NFL. Josh Allen, the reigning MVP is simply too good to be 8-7 in the playoffs, with zero Super Bowl appearances during an eight-year span.
It may have just been time to move on for the Bills. That doesn't mean McDermott is a bad coach, though. Sunday's devastating divisional round loss to the Denver Broncos may have been the final straw, but it wasn't a game that felt particularly damning for the now-fired head man.
If anything, his emphatic statements about "standing up for Buffalo," and demanding an explanation for why an extremely controversial overtime interception wasn't at least reviewed in real time was an endearing reminder of what makes McDermott such an intriguing candidate for any of the remaining head coach vacancies.
He embraced Western New York since the day he arrived there. And for a while, at least, Bills fans embraced him. That was at the heart of the culture he built over his near decade in charge, turning Buffalo – once one of the league's most mocked franchises – into a legitimate and consistent Super Bowl contender.
If that sounds like something you're envious of from a frigid Northeast Ohio, well, you should be.
Like the pre-McDermott Bills, the Browns – since returning to town in 1999 – have been unable to shake the aura of "dysfunction" that defines them still today. Granted, recently ousted head man Kevin Stefanski appeared to be on the right track when he first arrived.
McDermott is the perfect coach to finish what Stefanski started.
In nine seasons, the 51-year-old had a 98-50 overall record. Posted seven straight, 10-win seasons and won five division titles. Two of his eight playoff appearances ended in trip to the conference finals.
McDermott essentially fell victim to his own success. When you deliver those types of numbers and get that close to tasting the grandest prize in the sport, eventually the expectation becomes the thing you've failed to do.
The thing is, though, Browns fans long for a mere taste of the bar McDermott set in Buffalo. Cleveland needs to crawl, to walk, to run. McDermott has proven he's plenty capable of taking a lost franchise on that journey.
And for those skeptical of how much of McDermott's success is wrapped up in the coattails of Josh Allen's incredible career, well, McDermott was there first and made the playoffs in year one without him.
Remember, it also took Allen several years before becoming the jaunting unicorn with an MVP in his trophy case that we all know him as today. McDermott led the Bills to the playoffs in Allen's second year, when he completed under 60% of his passes, for just over 3,000 yards 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
His time with Allen also proves he has the right temperament and patience to allow a young QB to develop – something the Browns certainly hope to do at some point during this roster makeover they're currently undertaking.
There aren't a lot of cons to pursuing McDermott in this crazy head coach carousel, which now includes 10 teams making changes in leadership.
Th next phase for the Browns includes hosting six head coach candidates for in-person interviews over the course of the next week or so. McDermott needs to find a way onto the list. He should be at the top of it, frankly.