Bills HC Sean McDermott on calling defensive plays: 'It feels natural'

When Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier announced that he was stepping away from coaching at the end of February, head coach Sean McDermott didn’t panic.

While there’s the possibility Frazier could return to the team in 2024, Buffalo was suddenly without a defensive coordinator for 2023. McDermott chose not to name a successor, instead shouldering the load himself — at least for next season.

"[Calling defensive plays is] part of how I got here," McDermott told reporters on Tuesday. “So, I just think (it’s helpful) being in the defensive staff room, having those critical conversations that come up, solving problems, trying to evolve where we need to evolve, and where the game is going. And then working hand in hand with our players. Again, that's been mostly the assistants to this point. Then together with the staff figuring some things out and it just feels good. It feels natural. And we'll see where it goes in the future."

Though uncommon, it’s not unheard of for a head coach to also call his team’s defensive plays. Recent examples include Bill Belichick (New England Patriots), Ron Rivera (Carolina Panthers), Vic Fangio (Denver Broncos), Dan Quinn (Atlanta Falcons) and Wade Phillips (Dallas Cowboys).

Before taking the Bills head coaching job, McDermott spent six years as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers from 2011-16 and two with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009-10. So he’s well-versed in what the job entails.

The Bills finished 2022 with the sixth-best defense in the NFL, allowing just 319.1 yards per game. They ranked ninth against the pass, fourth against the run and second in scoring defense.