Sean McDermott

“It is unusual for a coach to call you, just from a fundamental standpoint and say 'hey we're watching what you do.'”

“Each team is different but you give yourself a better chance if you keep the team intact.”

“Coach Wilks really embraces that growth mindset and trying to learn and grow every day so he's a good fundamental teacher. He understands the passing game which is important when you coach as a defensive coordinator and also as a secondary coach like he has, so he's one of the top-notch coaches in our business.”

“It's always hard going against friends.”

“I think that most people who know me would say that I'm an intense individual and very driven to win and enjoy the competition aspect of the game.”

“I'm into hiring smart guys; I'm into hiring guys who can think at a higher level, that can offer ideas.”

“You're doing yourself a disservice if you're not building your roster and your team to give yourself a legitimate chance to score 21 points.”

“I knew I wanted to coach at an early age.”

“I know my background was defense, but I'm not a defensive coach who wants to win 9-7 every week.”

“The Buffalo Bills will never stop fighting.”

“Coming to Buffalo three years, two and a half years ago, whatever it's been a lot of people said, 'Why are you going there? You're not going to be able to get it turned around.' But we got it turned around, with a lot of work yet to do.”

“What I look for are guys that work hard, have a great work ethic and embrace that underdog mentality a little bit. And certainly there is no substitute for toughness.”

“There's a reason the Panthers have been successful over the years and Cam Newton's a big factor in that equation. He does a great job.”

“I obtained my first job with the Eagles through a series of internships that began during my junior year of college. From there, after obtaining the job, it was a combination of hard work and perseverance and showing them the type of person that I was that helped me climb the coaching ladder.”

“The only way you can get a hit is if you take a swing.”

“We're not in the business of making doorknobs. We're in the business of people. There are things you have to do these days as a coach and as a teacher to deal with the modern athlete.”

“Move the ball and score points. If we don't do that, I'm frustrated. Simply put.”

“This game in a lot of ways, isn't that complex. You bring energy to the table and you've got a chance. You bring fundamentals to the table and you've got a chance. It's not always about scheme and all that magic-behind-the-curtain stuff.”

“My dad emphasized athletics. My mom did as well, but my mom was really hard on the academic end of things and always stressed, 'Hey, you've got to have the grades, you've got to be prepared for life outside of sports.'”

“It's a life lesson that translates beyond football. You can share these things with your kids: Work hard, do things the right way and you have a chance.”