McDermott is a 1993 graduate of La Salle College High School, where he was named All-Southeastern Pennsylvania at defensive back in 1992. He was also a national prep champion wrestler in 1992 and 1993. He received a bachelor's degree in finance while at the College of William and Mary, where he was an all-conference safety. He was teammates with Mike Tomlin, who was a wide receiver and faced McDermott constantly. He also received Academic all-conference honors in 1996 and 1997 and NSCA Strength and Conditioning All-America accolades.
Coaching career
Philadelphia Eagles
McDermott originally joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998 as a scouting administrative coordinator, a position he held until being promoted to assistant to the head coach in 1999. He then became defensive quality control coach and later assistant defensive backs coach. In 2003, he replaced Steve Spagnuolo as defensive backs coach, as Spagnuolo was assigned linebackers coach. In 2004, McDermott saw both of his starting safeties earn Pro Bowl berths for the first time in team history. McDermott and the Eagles appeared in Super Bowl XXXIX that season but had lost to the New England Patriots who had won their 2nd straight Super Bowl title. Under McDermott's watch, Dawkins went on to earn two more Pro Bowl berths following the 2005 and 2006 seasons. In 2007, McDermott was assigned linebackers coach, after Spagnuolo had left to take the defensive coordinator job for the New York Giants. On January 28, 2008, Eagles head coach Andy Reid named McDermott as the secondary coach again. On May 18, 2009, McDermott was named the interim defensive coordinator as a result of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's medical leave of absence. On July 24, of that same year, due to the continuing decline of Johnson, the Eagles announced McDermott would take over as full-time defensive coordinator. Johnson died four days later. McDermott implemented a variety of blitzes in his defense, thanks in part to his mentor, former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. McDermott was fired as the defensive coordinator on January 15, 2011.
Carolina Panthers
McDermott was hired as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers on January 17, 2011. He was Pro Football Focus's second runner up to their Defensive Coordinator of the Year award in 2015. As the Panthers' defensive coordinator, McDermott led the team to finishes in the top ten in overall defense from 2012–2015. In the 2015 season, McDermott and the Panthers reached Super Bowl 50, which was played on February 7, 2016. His defense only gave up one offensive touchdown in the game, but the Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.
Buffalo Bills
On January 11, 2017, McDermott was hired by the Buffalo Bills as the 22nd head coach in franchise history. On September 10, 2017, McDermott won his NFL head coaching debut in the season opening 21–12 victory over the New York Jets, becoming just the third Bills head coach to win his first game with the team after Marv Levy and Rex Ryan. After Buffalo lost in Week 2 to the Carolina Panthers, McDermott led the Bills to 4 more wins in the next 5 games, including a win against the reigning NFC champion Atlanta Falcons. However, they lost the next two games, including a 47–10 loss to the New Orleans Saints, which prompted him to make the controversial decision to bench starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor in favor of rookie backup Nathan Peterman. Peterman played poorly against the Los Angeles Chargers in his first career start, throwing 5 interceptions in the first half. He was benched for Taylor during the second half of the 54–24 loss, which dropped the Bills to 5–5. Despite the string of losses, the Bills then went on a 4–2 run to finish the season at 9–7, clinching the AFC's 6th seed and their first playoff appearance in 18 years, thus ending both the NFL's and the North American professional sports franchise's longest active playoff droughts during McDermott's first year as head coach. The Bills would go on to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars 10–3 in the AFC Wild Card Game. The following season, McDermott's Bills finished 6–10 and missed the playoffs, but had a strong finish to the season after a 2–7 start. After suffering blowout losses in four of the first nine games, partly caused by a lack of offensive talent, the Bills adjusted their roster, allowing them to stay competitive in each of the last seven games. Buffalo's defense improved in 2018. McDermott was nominated for NFL Head Coach of the Year for the 2019 season after leading the Bills to a 10-6 record and their second playoff berth in three seasons. The Bills would lose 22-19 to the Houston Texans in overtime during the Wild Card round.
Head coaching record
Personal life
McDermott and his wife Jamie have two children, one son and one daughter. The family resides in East Amherst, New York. McDermott is a Christian.
