You know he can see it. Sean McDermott is a man on a mission. After recently signing an extension that will keep him and his family in Western New York for six more years, McDermott has only one thing on his mind right now; winning an NFL championship. THIS season.
Look, the man plans his life in five minute intervals. So you can only imagine how much the COVID-19 pandemic must have affected him. McDermott thought he was getting ready for the greatest football season of his career one minute… and then 2020 looked back and said, ‘hold on just a gosh darn minute, Coach’.
McDermott’s obsession with preparation may have even caused a temporal lobe seizure when he realized what the pandemic was about to do to all his carefully laid plans. I have a vision of him… heat and light waves shining off his beautiful bald head… standing in a room like the Wizard of Oz. He’s behind the curtain, controlling all variables necessary to achieve his goal of hoisting a Lombardi in Buffalo. THIS season.
The emphasis on THIS season is for a reason. It’s the reason for the season… winning a championship. You can see it in his eyes. Sean McDermott has determined this is the season that will define the next chapter of his legacy. Mind you, this isn’t about glory-seeking for himself. This is about a man on a mission.
This mission is about whatever McDermott chooses it to be. In this case, he has set his baby blues on righting a wrong from the 1990s in a city desperate for a championship in professional sports. He clearly sees himself as the vehicle that will help Buffalo reach the top of the mountain for the first time in our long, mostly forlorn history with respect to sports.
During one of the chapters of my life, I served as a psychotherapist working with people and families with cancer or other chronic diseases. Living in rural Wyoming, I also served as a general practice therapist along the way because working professionals in rural communities must wear many hats.
Having observed and participated in literally thousands of hours of counseling over the years, I learned a lot about human behavior. I also learned a lot about people who are naturally gifted psychologists. They self-teach and learn about human behavior through their own study and ability to discern the human condition.
McDermott constantly focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of the game, and “controlling what you can control”. This part of him was likely in place at an early age and became a significant part of the foundation of his practice as a coach. Having been the son of a coach also allowed him the privilege of learning as he grew into his personal identity.
We’ve had a few years to watch Sean McDermott learn and grow into his role as head coach of the Buffalo Bills. You can see how meticulous he is at his craft and how he shapes reality through mental discipline and constant self-evaluation. I believe he targeted THIS season to be when he pulls it all together for the moment we all wish to experience; an NFL championship in Buffalo.
Of course this is never spoken about. It’s all in the master plan. Why NOT shoot for the moon when the stars are aligned?
However, be warned… one should not be careless and obstruct the man from his mission. The pandemic provided the perfect cover for McDermott to shut down all distractions, while he prepares and practices as Principal Conductor of his Orchestra in Orchard Park. No fans at training camp and limited media coverage provided him a golden opportunity to test his inner Belichick. And test it he did.
We found out this week just how serious Sean McDermott is about controlling what is allowed to be spoken by the media at training camp. An article by The Athletic’s Tim Graham (subscription) reported the Bills suspended their own reporter for violating the media policy during training camp. Youza.
Of course this created a frenzy on social media, but while most were focused on the details of what happened, I was focused on why it happened. Although it wasn’t reported exactly who was responsible for the decision, you can bet it had Sean McDermott’s finger prints all over it. He is determined to shut down as much information getting out of training camp as he possibly can.
McDermott likely wouldn’t have done so in 2017 when they gutted the team and knew it would be a few years before the Bills would be ready to contend. It’s been a few years. They are ready to contend. He is laser focused on his goal.
Bottom line: do not get in the way of Sean McDermott and his mission.
– The Caboose
~Remember, the caboose is always bringing up the rear~