Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott Regrets Comments on 9/11 Hijackers
An emotional Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott acknowledged regret on Thursday for comments he made during a team meeting four years ago crediting the 9/11 hijackers for their coordination.
McDermott had cited the hijackers while stressing the importance of communication. Upon realizing how his message was being interpreted, McDermott said he called a second team meeting an hour later to apologize to his players. And he planned to do so again with his current team members on Thursday, after an article posted on the Substack page of NFL writer Tyler Dunne, citing numerous unnamed sources, revealed what McDermott had said at the meeting during training camp in 2019.
The article alleges McDermott "cited the hijackers as a group of people who were all able to get on the same page to orchestrate attacks to perfection."
McDermott said he had not read the series of articles, which were critical of his tenure as Bills head coach, but wanted to address the 9/11 reference, CBS affiliate.
"Not only was 9/11 a horrific event in our country's history, but a day that I lost a good family friend," McDermott said during an unplanned appearance in the Bills' media room.
"As I expressed to the team at that time that I regretted and apologized for not doing a satisfactory job of conveying my point, I will do the same with the team today," he stated. "So if there are any new members, they comprehend how significant this is to me and my family because it is a significant event, a horrifying event in our past."
McDermott stressed his point by tapping the podium multiple times. He paused on several occasions, carefully choosing his words while tears filled his eyes.
Nearly 3,000 individuals lost their lives on September 11, 2001, when hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.
"When Derek shared this specific piece, I immediately intervened because this holds great significance to me," McDermott explained.
"If anyone misinterpreted or failed to understand my message, I apologize for not effectively communicating the intent of my message," McDermott said, recounting what he conveyed to his players in 2019. "I believed it was important then, and I still believe it is important now."
Buffalo Bills Head Coach Apologizes for Team's Underperformance
The head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Sean McDermott, has issued an apology for his team's underperformance this season. McDermott, who is in his seventh season with the Bills, has been credited for transforming the team from a losing record to a contender.
Under McDermott's leadership, the Bills made the playoffs in his first season in 2017, ending a 17-year playoff drought, which was the longest active streak in the NFL at the time. The team has since made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons and has been the three-time defending AFC East champion.
With a record of 68-41, McDermott is currently ranked second on the franchise list in victories, behind only Hall of Famer Marv Levy. Prior to his time with the Bills, McDermott served as a defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers.
However, the team's underachievement this season has led to scrutiny of McDermott's performance. The Bills currently have a 6-6 record and are outside of playoff position in the AFC. Last month, offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired in an effort to address the team's struggles.
McDermott's apology comes amidst other off-the-field issues for the team. Star pass rusher Von Miller was recently charged with felony domestic violence for an alleged assault on the mother of his children.
The Bills will face the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) on Sunday in their next game.
