Buffalo Bills coach, Sean McDermott, has issued an apology for using the September 11 hijackers as an example of teamwork during a motivational talk with his players. The 49-year-old reportedly praised the attackers for executing their plans "to perfection" during a training camp session in 2019. According to US journalist and blogger Tyler Dunne, McDermott referred to the hijackers as a group of individuals who were able to collaborate effectively to orchestrate the attacks. He then posed questions to his players about the obstacles the attackers faced and the tactics they used to come together. The comments left the players stunned, with one member of the team describing them as “strange” and another as “horrifying”.

The September 11 attacks, which took place in 2001, resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Nineteen men hijacked four passenger planes, crashing them into targets including the World Trade Center in New York. The attempt to steer the fourth plane into a high-profile target, possibly the White House, was thwarted by passengers who rebelled, causing the aircraft to crash in a field in Pennsylvania instead.

During a press conference, McDermott seemed to acknowledge that he had made the controversial comments and admitted that he had failed to effectively communicate the intent of his message. He expressed regret for mentioning 9/11 and immediately apologized to the team. McDermott emphasized that the importance of communication and being on the same page with the team was his intention during the meeting. He also revealed that the 9/11 attacks were personal to him as he had lost a good family friend on that day.

The revelation about McDermott's remarks came from a series of blog posts by Tyler Dunne, who discussed the alleged "McDermott problem" within the Buffalo Bills. Dunne claimed to have spoken to multiple anonymous players and sources within the team who raised concerns about the coach's social skills and awkwardness. In one instance, McDermott allegedly perplexed players by discussing the attempted rescue of a woman who died after driving into the river near Niagara Falls in December 2021. According to Dunne, McDermott built up the drama of the situation but then abruptly revealed that the woman had died.

McDermott declined to comment on the other alleged issues raised in Dunne's article during the press conference.

The Buffalo Bills coach's use of the 9/11 attacks as an example of teamwork has sparked controversy and criticism. McDermott's attempt to emphasize the importance of togetherness by citing a terrorist attack that caused immense loss and tragedy has been widely condemned. The comments have drawn attention to the coach's leadership style and raised questions about his ability to effectively motivate and communicate with his players.

On the field, the Buffalo Bills have had a lackluster season, with a record of 6-6. They currently stand second in the AFC East and face the Kansas City Chiefs in an important game on Sunday. McDermott took over as head coach of the team in 2017 and has been credited with turning their fortunes around. However, the team's struggles this season have fueled doubts about his job security and ability to lead the Bills to the Super Bowl.

McDermott's apology and acknowledgement of his mistake indicate that he recognizes the gravity of his comments and the impact they have had on his players and the public. Whether this incident will have long-term consequences for his coaching career remains to be seen.