Thanks to Peter King’s interview with Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane, we know how the Bills head coach recruited Beane to Buffalo:
Here’s the awesome exchange:
McDermott: I just was reminded of something. I knew after our first interview here it was going to take some effort to convince him to leave Carolina—he’s lived there his whole life, and his wife’s from there. I took a picture of a book that I am currently reading. It’s called “Chase the Lion,” and the subtitle is, “If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small.” And I took a picture of it and I sent it to Brandon, and that was kind of my recruiting approach to convince him that this is a chance for him and his career and what he and his family have sacrificed over the years.
Beane: When I got it, I was lying in bed, watching TV with my wife. I was like, This is so Sean.
McDermott: It was a recruiting ploy.
Beane: When I saw that picture, I laughed, but there is a lot of truth behind that. It did help. There were a lot of reasons to go back for that second interview,Sean and I am so glad I did. I’m excited to get going with you [talking to McDermott].
During his introductory press conference in Buffalo, Beane made it clear he’d needed to be blown away to leave the Panthers organization of which he spent 19 years.
Terry and Kim Pegula clearly blew him away with all the resources they’d provide to him. And McDermott’s recruiting ploy may have factored in too.