If you’re covering the fallout from the Buffalo Bills’ divisional loss to the Broncos—including the firing of head coach Sean McDermott, the promotion of general manager Brandon Beane and a press conference that further eroded trust among fans and raised questions about organizational leadership, University experts are available to speak to the issues. They can discuss leadership and management decisions, organizational trust and the public relations fallout from comments made during yesterday’s press conference, including the reaction involving wide receiver Keon Coleman. Their names, backgrounds and quotes are below.

If you’re interested in speaking with any of them, please contact Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Anthony D’Angelo, professor of practice in public relations in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, shared the following:

• “I agree with those who say the problem isn’t that they fired Sean McDermott, it’s how they fired him. Despite his strong coaching record, they didn’t make the Super Bowl in nine years, and they have a quarterback who may be the best player in the game. One could understand that the Bills aspire to a higher standard than making (and losing in) the playoffs. However, the press conference conveyed the message that the firing decision was made based on one game—it seemed hasty and reactive as opposed to a management decision that should have been considered over the course of an entire season.”
• “The criticism of Keon Coleman was horrible. Wonder how that made other players feel? Like commodities, I’d imagine. And for Bills owner Terry Pegula to shift the blame for drafting him to the coaching staff, who apparently made a case for him, rather than the GM who must approve and make all drafts, was petty and defensive.”
• “One unanswered or poorly answered question: why was the GM promoted when ample blame could be assigned to him for team deficiencies (e.g., poor defensive record in the playoffs)?”
• “In short, a press conference that ostensibly was to reassure the media and fans about the team’s decision-making and future direction, did exactly the opposite. The Bills had time for media training and scenario-planning for the owner and GM. Wonder if they bothered to do any.”

Mary Graham, professor in the Falk College of Sport, shared the following:

• “McDermott is a well-liked, capable coach with a winning record. He will likely land somewhere else as a head coach, perhaps providing a fresh start to another team in need of one.”
• “Pegula’s decision to terminate McDermott makes sense. McDermott was hired to win, not just in general, but AFC Championships, and a SuperBowl. He was not able to accomplish either of these goals, even with a premier, incredibly talented quarterback in Josh Allen. Nine years is long enough for a coach to prove himself.”
• “A termination like this also provides a ‘reset’ opportunity for a new coach to light a spark and shift dynamics in a clearly discouraged team. Everyone may need a change.”
• “Some things that were noteworthy about the termination:
  • “Characterizing the decision as a management restructuring decision rather than just a straightforward termination of a coach who didn’t win. This approach appeared to contribute to the narrative that there was a power struggle between McDermott and Brandon Beane, who received a promotion to head of football operations/general manager, with the new head coach now reporting to Beane instead of Terry Pegula. While this may be the case, there is no need to air this narrative in public: (a) it is fueling division within the team and its players; and (b) the restructuring explanation was not perceived as credible or the full story by the press or by the fans. Pegula should have just communicated that the termination was due to the lack of winning championships and the Super Bowl, and then stopped there.
  • “Pegula’s emphasis on Josh Allen’s and the team’s emotional state as a catalyst for the termination implies that the decision was spur-of-the moment and potentially unfair to McDermott, when in fact, Pegula’s decision was a sound one.”

Patrick Walsh, professor and department chair in the Falk College of Sport, is also available for interviews. He specializes in sport brand management, rebranding, how teams use media and marketing to achieve business goals and more. Before entering academia, he worked in marketing for the Buffalo Bills, giving him direct industry experience analyzing organizational decisions, brand trust and fan response.