In a 2019 team meeting, U.S. Bills coach Sean McDermott apologized for attributing the 9/11 hijackers’ coordination.
DECEMBER 8, 2023 / 11:16 AM EST / CBS/AP
Sean McDermott, the coach of the Buffalo Bills, expressed contrition on Thursday for remarks he made four years
ago during a team meeting, at which he claimed responsibility for the 9/11 hijackers’ coordination.
Citing the hijackers, McDermott emphasized the significance of communication. McDermott claimed that after
recognizing the interpretation of his message, he held another team meeting and apologized to his teammates an
hour later. And he intended to do so once more on Thursday with his current teammates after an article that
appeared on NFL journalist Tyler Dunne’s Substack page, citing many anonymous sources, disclosed what
McDermott had
The report claims that McDermott “cited the hijackers as a group of people who were all able to get on the same page
to orchestrate attacks to perfection.”
McDermott stated that he wanted to address the 9/11 connection even though he had not read the series of stories
that were critical of his time as head coach of the Bills, according to CBS affiliate WIVB-TV.
“9/11 was not only a terrible day in our nation’s history, but it was also a day that I lost a close family friend,”
McDermott stated in an impromptu visit at the Bills media room.
“As I mentioned to the team then that I regretted and apologized for me not going a good enough job of
communicating my point, I’m going to do the same with the team today,” he continued. “So if there’s anyone new,
they understand how important that is to me and my family because it’s an important event, a horrific event in our
history.”
McDermott repeatedly tapped the podium to drive home his point. He stopped numerous times, his eyes welling
with tears as he considered what to say.
On September 11, 2001, hijacked aircraft crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvanian
field, killing close to 3,000 people. It was the bloodiest act of terrorism on American territory.
McDermott refuted the reports of his remarks made during the meeting. He felt compelled to address the matter
immediately after learning about the report from Derek Boyko, the team’s vice president of communications.
“When Derek shared this particular piece, I said, ‘Stop right there because this is important to me,'” said McDermott.
According to McDermott, players approached him after his 2019 apology and expressed gratitude for his response to
the remarks, WIVB added.
Speaking about what he told his players in 2019, McDermott said, “If anyone misinterpreted or didn’t understand
my message, I apologize I didn’t do a good enough job of communicating clearly the intent of my message.” “I felt it
was important then, and I still feel like it’s important.”
McDermott, 49, is in his seventh season in Buffalo and is recognized for having turned a struggling team into a
contender. In 2017, the first season under his leadership, the Bills qualified for the playoffs, ending a 17-year
postseason drought that was the longest active skid in the NFL. In every playoff run that Buffalo has had,
His 68-41 record puts him second only to Hall of Famer Marv Levy in the franchise’s victory total. As a defensive
coordinator, McDermott advanced through the NFL ranks, first with the Philadelphia Eagles of his hometown and
subsequently with Carolina.
McDermott’s play has drawn criticism, though, because Buffalo (6-6) has underperformed this year. After firing
offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey last month, the team is currently outside of the AFC playoff picture. On Sunday,
the Bills go to Kansas City (8-4) to play.
The most recent off-the-field problem to surface for McDermott’s team was his apologies. Famous pass rusher Von
Miller was accused of attacking his children’s mother, leading to charges of felony domestic abuse last week.
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