KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WKBW) — Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has his team one win away from a trip to the Super Bowl.
“He deserves coach of the year," said Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. "He’s really just done a nice job with that whole program.”
That’s quite the praise from a future hall of fame coach, Andy Reid, who will be on the opposite sideline Sunday.
"I’ve said this time and time again, I’ve learned a lot from Andy Reid," McDermott said.
Those lessons didn’t come without failure.
Almost exactly 10 years ago, Reid fired a then 36-year-old Sean McDermott.
After two years as the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator, Reid decided it was time for McDermott to continue his coaching career elsewhere.
“I’m thankful that god had a plan for me and my family, and then to go to Carolina," McDermott said. "I’m extremely grateful for that opportunity, to be in that organization with [now Washington Football Team head coach] Ron Rivera, and then to come to Buffalo. So that’s really been my path.”
Bills center Mitch Morse is one of the few players to have been coached by both Reid and McDermott; he said they have some differences, but there’s one big thing McDermott took from his mentor.
“He’s a guy you want to go to battle with, and I think that’s the biggest thing that translates to coach McDermott is, [he's] a guy you want to go to battle with," Morse said. "A guy who will put you in competitive situations in practices and put his players in the best situation possible and he brings the best out of his guys.”
Despite what happened back in 2011, McDermott says Reid is one of his greatest mentors, but that admiration doesn’t just go one way.
"They have put this thing together with some bold moves and production, so I think he’s done tremendous," Reid said.
"What a great thing for Buffalo, which is, if you’ve been there for a game, they love football there in Buffalo,"
Yes they do, and Bills Mafia loves their 'Pope of the Process' who has led the team to their best season in nearly 30 years.
"Everyone in their goes through a crucible moment like that, or moments, it’s what you do with them that defines how far you go,” McDermott said.
