Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott returns to Philadelphia

It took Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott 18 years in the NFL to land his first and hopefully only head coaching job. He started his NFL career as a scouting coordinator and eventually became a coach with his hometown team, the Philadelphia Eagles, under Andy Reid.

McDermott is very aware that this is his first time going back to Philadelphia as a head coach. His parents, brother, and other family members will be in attendance to watch him lead the Bills in their shared home town. Even for a man like McDermott who’s family values are sky high, this is not something he’s dwelling on at this point.

“I guess if it were the first time that I was going back to Philadelphia as a coach, it would be a little bit different,” said McDermott at a Tuesday morning press conference. “You guys are getting to know me well enough now that I’m more focused on our team. I want us to go out and perform the way I expect us to perform. Maybe after the game I’ll have a chance to catch up with some family and friends and that will be nice too.”

He noted afterward that he still didn’t have the final list of who was going to be there.

Although it is only a preseason game, as a competitor McDermott will want to go out and have his team perform at a high level. While he traveled to Philly with the Carolina Panthers in 2012 and 2014, this will be his first time on the visitors sideline since McDemott coached from the coaches box when he was a coordinator.

Unfortunately for fellow former Eagle, Jordan Matthews, won’t be a go for the game on tomorrow with a chipped sternum. Ronald Darby should see his first game action with the Eagles against his former team. Lots of players and coaches on both sides spent time with both organizations.