McDermott not in Top 10 of NFL coaches per PFF.

[SoTier]

1 hour ago, OldNMBillsFan said:

This clown lists John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens #4, yet he continues to fall far shorter than McDermott in the playoffs while having a 3-time MVP quarterback. Lamar Jackson is consistently ranked as a better QB than Allen at PFF and many other sites (although many of us Bills fans would disagree). McDermott is 2-0 against Harbaugh and Jackson in the playoffs. Harbaughs has a dismal record of 3-5 in the playoffs since Jacksons arrival compared to McDermotts 7-6 with Josh Allen, yet he lists McDermott as 11th with the only reason being his playoff record, mainly losing to the Chiefs. How can he justify ranking Harbaugh as 4th when he can't get past either the Bills or the Chiefs in the playoffs and put McDermott is 11th when Mcdermott has clearly has out coached Harbough with a lesser ranked QB (according to PFF)? 

 

While this article is from PFF, it really is simply just another subjective listing based on opinion not any kind of data, and for this particular author -- and others -- winning a Super Bowl even more than a decade ago automatically elevates that coach to any "best HCs" list.   It's stupid, but it's the way it is.  IMO, Payton and Tomlin are also in this group of HCs living off past glory rather than recent performance, especially in the playoffs.

 

 

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

Do you consider Lamar better than Josh?

 

I like Lamar a lot, and I think he’s a force, but I think he’s got some real Achilles heel type stuff that holds him back compared to Josh.

 

so I don’t personally think the Ravens have ever played the bills in the playoffs with a QB advantage. I think the opposite. Don’t you?

 

In 2024, Lamar was much closer to Allen and Mahomes as a complete QB than ever, but he was backed up by a much better supporting cast than either.   The Baltimore roster was clearly superior to the Bills roster outside of QB in 2024, which is why Allen won the MVP despite Lamar having significantly better statistics.

   

Football is a team sport, and Harbaugh has consistently had excellent rosters that he doesn't seem to get the most out of, especially in the playoffs, in recent years.

 

 

 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

 

 

Sirianni is the perfect example of why saying “McD is great because he has a great winning percentage” is invalid. He has the best winning percentage in football currently, without one of the very best QBs, and we all agree he isn’t close to the best coach in football. 

 

It is unquestionably true that there is more to the evaluation than winning percentage. It is equally, however, unquestionably true that McDermott has infinitely more input and influence on the franchise than Sirianni does in Philly. He is one of the least empowered coaches in the entire league. His GM picks his coordinators for him. 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

That’s a good way to phrase it.

 

Coaches I would trade for McD straight up:

 

Reid

McVay

Shanny

Campbell

KOC

LaFleur

Payton

 

I’m actually kinda lower on Harbaugh and Tomlin than others, they are right in McDs class imo. To me, the guys I listed above have elevated their teams beyond their QB. You could argue that Tomlin has, and you’d have a point, but I think he’s more of a floor raiser than a ceiling raiser.

 

Sirianni is the perfect example of why saying “McD is great because he has a great winning percentage” is invalid. He has the best winning percentage in football currently, without one of the very best QBs, and we all agree he isn’t close to the best coach in football. 

 

I obviously disagree strongly on John Harbaugh. I think he is an excellent coach, his ability to adjust in season is really underrated. I think he is an excellent leader (as is Tomlin) but Harbaugh is a better football strategist. 

 

I did consider LaFleur for my second group - the wouldn't swap either way group - but I get similar levels of game management faux pas and under peformance by his unit in playoff exists and I don't get the same leadership I do with McDermott. Therefore overall I think he is less talented as a football coach - albeit he is on the more valuable side of the ball in 2025.

[boater]

I'm a McDermott supporter on this board.

 

Having said that, if a real hot coach--and I can't think of an example, somebody credible, became available -- I would replace McDermott.

 

However, there is no one available who is a step up from McDermott. That is my disagreement with the "fire McDermott" posters. Sure, fire him, but replace him with what?

[Augie]

Just now, boater said:

I'm a McDermott supporter on this board.

 

Having said that, if a real hot coach--and I can't think of an example, somebody credible, became available -- I would replace McDermott.

 

However, there is no one available who is a step up from McDermott. That is my disagreement with the "fire McDermott" posters. Sure, fire him, but replace him with what?

 

Shall we roll the dice and waste Allen’s prime years starting over and revamping the roster to fit the new schemes for the new HC and coordinators?  I’ll stick with what we’ve got in lieu of a gamble on a new guy. 

[Gregg]

4 minutes ago, boater said:

I'm a McDermott supporter on this board.

 

Having said that, if a real hot coach--and I can't think of an example, somebody credible, became available -- I would replace McDermott.

 

However, there is no one available who is a step up from McDermott. That is my disagreement with the "fire McDermott" posters. Sure, fire him, but replace him with what?

 

Bill has an opt clause in his UNC contract. His record when he has had an elite level franchise QB speaks for itself. Granted Brady is the GOAT, but Allen is much closer to Brady than Mac Jones. Bill is also a better DC than Sean and manages the game better as a HC. You don't get to 9 Super Bowls and win 6 of them by luck. With that said McDermott isn't getting fired so we have to hope he can figure it out and get the Bills to the Super Bowl and win it.

[Just in Atlanta]

On 6/24/2025 at 10:24 PM, stevestojan said:

He lucked into Allen. 
 

There is nothing - in his scheme, his clock/game management, his decision making, or his “defensive mindset” that puts him in the top 20. 
 

Without Allen, he’s out of a job 4 years ago. 

Over the past five years, the bills have the least points scored against them in addition to the no 1 most points scored.
 

With the exception of last year, they’ve been in the top five defenses year over year under his reign.

 

Taking fault with his end of game management is certainly valid

 

Otherwise, this is a deeply illogical take.

[FireChans]

20 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Shall we roll the dice and waste Allen’s prime years starting over and revamping the roster to fit the new schemes for the new HC and coordinators?  I’ll stick with what we’ve got in lieu of a gamble on a new guy. 

I mean, can you imagine if we win 10+ games every year and don't win a Super Bowl? What a waste.

[Royale with Cheese]

3 hours ago, uticaclub said:

Preston Brown had led the league in tackles and Jon Miller had a good start to his career before injuries 

 

Total tackles seem not to be a good indicator of performance.  The year after Brown led the league in tackles, he only received a 1 year $4 million dollar contract from the Bengals.  He was out of the NFL by 2019 after being cut by 3 straight teams (Bengals, Raiders and Jags).  He's only 32 years old today and hasn't played since 2019...he was out of the league by age 27.

 

John Miller had a good start to his career?  He was benched by game 4 in his rookie season to Vlad Ducasse.  

[thenorthremembers]

I am huge supporter of both Beane and McDermott.     McDermott needs to get better at being flexible and thinking on his feet, he also needs to get better at hiring Special Teams Coordinators.  With all that said, the absolute lowest he should be on a list of Head Coaches in the league is 7th.   

 

This list in general lost any sort of credibility when they decided to put Stefanski in the top ten. 

[uticaclub]

12 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

I am huge supporter of both Beane and McDermott.     McDermott needs to get better at being flexible and thinking on his feet, he also needs to get better at hiring Special Teams Coordinators.  With all that said, the absolute lowest he should be on a list of Head Coaches in the league is 7th.   

 

This list in general lost any sort of credibility when they decided to put Stefanski in the top ten. 

Two time coach of the year Stefanski?

[Gregg]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/2025-nfl-head-coach-hot-seat-rankings-these-coaches-must-deliver-successful-seasons-or-risk-getting-fired/ar-AA1HtZJX

[Logic]

I haven't read through the 12 pages of this thread.

I just stopped in to say that while McDermott has his share of flaws, with playoff performance being chief among them...

Any insinuation that he's not one of the 10 best coaches in the NFL is simply incorrect. It's an incorrect opinion. Yes, the question is subjective. But to suggest that the guy with the second best win percentage in the NFL since 2020 and six straight playoff trips isn't at least the 10th best coach in the league is simply unreasonable.

Where is he between 2nd and 10th? That's a much more interesting and reasonable question. But if you don't think he ranks at least 10th, you're wrong. Period.

That is all.

Edited 2 hours ago by Logic

[Mat68]

McDermott is a supremely under rated coach.  I would swap him for Kyle Shannahan.  Him paired with Allen is guaranteed a Superbowl.  Outside of that I stick with Sean.  How Stefanski is considered a better coach boggles my mind.  

 

[MJS]

McDermott is a top 5 or 6 coach in the NFL. The list is a joke. PFF is good for some things, but their grading and rankings are silly.

[Logic]

6 minutes ago, MJS said:

McDermott is a top 5 or 6 coach in the NFL. The list is a joke. PFF is good for some things, but their grading and rankings are silly.

Yep. 

Their analytics themselves are often useful and informative (though not infallible) tools. I'm glad they exist.

Their editorial side, with its rankings and gradings and opinion pieces, are typically not good at all. And unfortunately, they don't do a good enough job keeping the raw analytics side and the editorial/opinion sides separate, leading some to lend undue credence to the editorial/opinion side.



 

[Augie]

22 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

McDermott is a supremely under rated coach.  I would swap him for Kyle Shannahan.  Him paired with Allen is guaranteed a Superbowl.  Outside of that I stick with Sean.  How Stefanski is considered a better coach boggles my mind.  

 

 

Shanahan wants QB’s who run his offense. Get the ball out to where it’s supposed to go. That’s how he gets by with a guy like Purdy. Josh is the opposite of that guy with all his improvising. I’m not sure if that is really such a great match as it would waste much of what Josh does best.  JMO

[thenorthremembers]

 

1 hour ago, uticaclub said:

Two time coach of the year Stefanski?

 

His career winning percentage is below .500.   He has two winning seasons in five years.   When he has made it to the playoffs his winning percentage is below.400.    Dick Jauron, Lovie Smith, Brian Daboll and Jim Haslett all won coach of the year as well.   It doesnt mean they are better coaches than McDermott.

 

If McDermott's record in Buffalo was as bad as Stefanski's has been in Cleveland one of the morons from this board would have started a gofundme to put up a Massive Fire McDermott Billboard in Orchard Park  by now.    Stefanski is a great Offensive Coordinator but he has yet to show he is a top ten head coach in the league.  Saying otherwise only shows your bias against McDermott. 

Edited 1 hour ago by thenorthremembers

[uticaclub]

8 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

 

 

His career winning percentage is below .500.   He has two winning seasons in five years.   When he has made it to the playoffs his winning percentage is below.400.    Dick Jauron, Lovie Smith, Brian Daboll and Jim Haslett all won coach of the year as well.   It doesnt mean they are better coaches than McDermott.

 

If McDermott's record in Buffalo was as bad as Stefanski's has been in Cleveland one of the morons from this board would have started a gofundme to put up a Massive Fire McDermott Billboard in Orchard Park  by now.    Stefanski is a great Offensive Coordinator but he has yet to show he is a top ten head coach in the league.  Saying otherwise only shows your bias against McDermott. 

Consider the differences between the ownership of the Browns and the Bills. The decision to sign Deshaun Watson killed the Browns, yet Stefanski still managed to lead the team to the playoffs with Joe Flacco as quarterback. This achievement gave Stefanski an edge over McDermott. Unless the Bills go undefeated, McDermott is unlikely to win Coach of the Year. Therefore, he needs to reach the Super Bowl to gain the recognition he deserves.

[Buffalo Boy]

On 6/25/2025 at 12:14 PM, GaryPinC said:

We can't continue to squander this amazing Josh Allen

Unfortunately, we can, we most likely will and most on here will make every excuse possible why it’s cool that it’s happening.