After Buffalo beat Indianapolis Saturday for its first playoff victory in 25 years, head coach Sean McDermott credited the players and the fans – but not before crediting God.
McDermott, who is in his fourth season as the Bills’ coach, opened the post-game virtual press conference by referencing his Christian faith.
“I just want to praise God for this afternoon and this day – what a beautiful day in Orchard Park, N.Y. To Him be all the glory,” McDermott told reporters.
The Bills defeated the Colts 27-24 for their first playoff win since 1995, which also was one year before legendary quarterback Jim Kelly retired. Kelly famously led the Bills to four straight Super Bowl appearances from 1990 to 1994, but the franchise slowly descended into mediocrity and had only two winning records between 2000 and 2016 – the year before McDermott arrived. In McDermott’s first season, 2017, Buffalo made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. They have made the playoffs in three of McDermott’s four seasons.
This year, Buffalo is 13-3 after winning the AFC East – its first division title since 1995.
According to Sports Spectrum, McDermott credits God for placing him in Buffalo. Sports Spectrum is a media outlet that covers Christian athletes.
“I believe that God’s plan prevails, and God had a plan, He ordained this to happen for me to come to Buffalo with my family,” McDermott told FCA Sports Talk. “I mean, fit is important, right? This is a blue jeans, work boots style community, and that’s me, that’s how I grew up. And so God had this plan, and He had it planned since I was born, to bring me here and my family for a reason. I still, at the end of the day, am waiting to see, as we continue to move forward, His plan continue to unfold for us in Buffalo … I just know God’s in control.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Bryan M. Bennett/Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
