The Buffalo Bills have moved on from head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons, and Colin Cowherd wants them to bring back a name from their past — New York Giants head coach and ex-Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
“Brian Daboll won a playoff game with Daniel Jones and is a former offensive coordinator who helped take Josh Allen to the next level,” Cowherd said on Monday’s “The Herd.” “Sean McDermott [has] bought eight playoff wins. You are able to do quite a bit worse than Sean McDermott, however for Buffalo, it is totally different. Josh Allen modifications the calculus. The usual modifications while you get a [John] Elway and Peyton Manning. You have to have a [Bill] Belichick, [Bill] Walsh, Andy Reid or Jimmy Johnson.
“I do not know if Brian Daboll is that, however John Harbaugh is off the market. Jim Harbaugh is off the market. Sean Payton is taken [and] so is Mike Vrabel. To me, Brian Daboll — who’s been in that room, labored with Josh and is an offensive coordinator who has labored each ounce out of his star quarterback — is the reply.”
Payments hearth Sean McDermott after shedding 33-30 in OT to the Broncos
Daboll was fired as Giants’ head coach within the midst of his fourth season in November 2025, posting a 20-40-1 document in his tenure with the group. Nonetheless, as Cowherd talked about, Daboll does have some previous success. He led the Giants to a shock turnaround in his first season with the group, going 9-7-1 as they have been capable of attain the divisional spherical in 2022. Jones additionally went from being considered as a bust to a viable beginning quarterback beneath Daboll’s watch. After the staff let Jones go in 2024, Daboll helped develop Jaxson Dart into changing into one of many league’s high dual-threat quarterbacks as a rookie in 2025.
Previous to that, Daboll’s declare to fame was serving to flip Allen into arguably essentially the most improved quarterback prospect of all time. By Allen’s third season with Daboll in 2020, the star quarterback emerged as an MVP candidate and the Payments started their run of 5 consecutive AFC East titles. Daboll spent 4 seasons because the Payments’ offensive coordinator.
Daboll additionally has some championship expertise in his previous. He was the New England Patriots‘ tight ends coach for 4 seasons (2013-16), successful two Tremendous Bowls throughout his time there. Daboll additionally helped Alabama win the nationwide championship in his lone season as its offensive coordinator (2017).
Nonetheless, Cowherd would not need the Payments to solely prioritize championship pedigree of their seek for their subsequent head coach. Actually, there’s one Tremendous Bowl head coach he would not wish to see them rent.
“You possibly can’t go along with Mike McCarthy,” Cowherd mentioned. “His groups, like McDermott, really feel like they don’t seem to be fairly buttoned up and shrink within the playoffs. Cannot go along with McCarthy — extra of the identical. Jesse Minter is a superb defensive coordinator, however do you need to go along with a defensive coach?
“How about someone that is proved it.”
McCarthy struggled within the postseason after serving to the Inexperienced Bay Packers win the Tremendous Bowl in 2010. He has gone 6-9 within the playoffs since then, failing to make it again to the Tremendous Bowl between his stints with the Packers and Dallas Cowboys. He has additionally made the convention championship recreation solely twice in these 9 playoff journeys.
The Payments have had comparable playoff woes beneath McDermott. They reached the AFC Championship Sport simply twice in eight playoff journeys with McDermott. They misplaced within the postseason by three factors or fewer in 4 of their previous 5 journeys, exhibiting that they are shut however could not recover from the hump.
Their newest playoff shortcoming got here in opposition to the Denver Broncos within the divisional spherical on Saturday. The Payments have been almost capable of win after Allen dedicated 4 turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles) however misplaced in time beyond regulation after giving up a landing within the last minute of regulation.
With the best way the Payments’ playoff losses have performed out, there’s one factor Cowherd needs them to prioritize of their head coach search: discover the very best one who can alleviate the strain off Allen.
“Saturday, Bo Nix form of did what he wished,” Cowherd mentioned. “5 turnovers on offense. It looks like so typically that Josh Allen is urgent to placed on a cape, get in a telephone sales space and are available out and make a play to beat his lack of receiving assist or a protection that may be good at occasions, however is not particular. It is not nearly as good because the [Los Angeles] Rams. It isn’t even nearly as good because the injury-plagued Niners. It is actually not so good as Seattle or Houston.”
Even with the struggles the Payments have had in getting over the hump, although, Cowherd remains to be fairly bullish about their head coach emptiness.
“It is a nice job,” Cowherd mentioned. “I am sitting right here pondering — John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski are in all probability sitting there, checking their contracts to ensure the ink is dry. Beginning in 2020 till at this time, they’re second within the NFL in wins, first in factors per recreation and first in level differential. … Perhaps most of it’s [because of] Josh Allen.”
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