Buffalo Bills Fire Sean McDermott: Reasons, Leadership Shifts, and Pegula-Beane Dynamics

## Buffalo Bills: Organization Overview The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football franchise based in Orchard Park, New York, and compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) East division[2][6]. Founded in 1959 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL), the team joined the NFL in 1970 following the AFL–NFL merger[1][4]. The organization is named after an earlier Buffalo football team from the All-America Football Conference and is the second NFL team to represent the city of Buffalo[1]. ## History and Key Achievements The Bills’ early years were marked by struggle, but the addition of quarterback Jack Kemp and running back Cookie Gilchrist in the early 1960s sparked a turnaround, culminating in back-to-back AFL championships in 1964 and 1965 under head coach Lou Saban[2][3]. Despite these early successes, the team endured long periods of mediocrity after joining the NFL, highlighted only by the record-setting performances of running back O.J. Simpson in the 1970s[1][3]. The franchise’s most notable period came in the early 1990s, when, led by head coach Marv Levy and a core of future Hall of Famers including Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Smith, the Bills became the only NFL team to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls (1990–1993). However, they lost all four, a record that remains unmatched[1][4][6]. The Bills have also won multiple AFC East division titles, most recently from 2020 to 2024, reflecting a resurgence under current leadership[5]. ## Current Status and Notable Aspects As of the start of the 2025 NFL season, the Bills’ all-time regular season record stands at 486–505–8[5]. The team plays its home games at

The **Denver Broncos** are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado, competing in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Founded in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL), the Broncos joined the NFL following the AFL-NFL merger in 1970[1][3][7]. Initially struggling in their first decade, with no winning seasons until 1973, the Broncos transformed into a competitive franchise by the late 1970s. Their breakthrough came in 1977 when they reached their first Super Bowl (XII), propelled by the famed "Orange Crush" defense under coach Red Miller[1][2][4]. The arrival of legendary quarterback John Elway in 1983 marked a new era, leading the team to five Super Bowl appearances between 1986 and 1998, winning back-to-back championships in 1997 (XXXII) and 1998 (XXXIII)[1][2][3][4]. After Elway’s retirement, the Broncos remained competitive, notably signing future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning in 2012. Under Manning, Denver reached two Super Bowls, securing victory in Super Bowl 50 in 2016, their third championship[3][4][6]. The team is well-known for its strong fan base and home-field advantage at Empower Field at Mile High, a stadium renowned for its high altitude and passionate atmosphere[3][7]. Currently owned by the Walton-Penner group, the Broncos continue to innovate and compete under new leadership, including head coach Sean Payton who joined in 2023. Their valuation by Forbes in 2025 stands at $6.8 billion, making them the 13th most valuable NFL franchise[3]. The Broncos have a rich history of success, with eight AFC championships and three Super Bowl titles, and have contributed nine members to the Pro Football Hall o