Bills coach Sean McDermott ‘cited 9/11 attacks as example of TEAMWORK in 2019 speech,’ unnamed sources say – with the Buffalo boss later apologizing for his astonishing choice of words

Sean McDermott responded to a report saying he used the 9/11 attacks in a 2019 speech as an example of teamwork.

Team meeting recorded on Tyler Dunn’s “Go Long” websiteIt is said that this happened during training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, New York.

“McDermott’s morning speech started innocently enough,” Dunn wrote. “He told the whole team that they needed to come together. But then, sources say, he used a strange model: the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists.

“He described the hijackers as a group of people who were able to come to a consensus and organize the attacks perfectly. One by one, McDermott began asking questions of specific players in the room. — What tactics do you think they used when getting together? The young player tried to answer methodically. “What do you think was their biggest obstacle?” The veteran responded, “TSA,” which mercifully lightened the mood.”

McDermott, who was called a “robot” by an unnamed source in the article, acknowledged the story on Thursday.

Sean McDermott admitted Thursday that he brought up 9/11 in a 2019 team meeting.

“My goal for the meeting that day was to discuss the importance of communication and being on the same page with the team,” he said.

“I regretted mentioning 9/11 in my message that day and immediately apologized to the team.

“9/11 was not only a horrific event in our country’s history, but also the day I lost a good family friend.

He continued: “One player didn’t show up – I didn’t make my point clear enough. So, right then I said we’re coming together as a team and I’m going to discuss this with everyone.

“It was before training. I brought everyone together and said that this was the goal, this was the intention, and I apologize if anyone felt a certain way out of this meeting.

“If anyone misinterpreted or misunderstood my message, I apologize.

“I didn’t do a good enough job of getting my message across clearly.

“It was about the importance of communication and how everyone needs to be on the same page, ironically. So it was important to me then and remains important now.”

The Bills, at 6-6, are heading into a crucial Week 14 matchup against the Chiefs on Sunday.

While discussing McDermott’s questionable choice of words in 2019, another unnamed player told Dunn that the coach “lacks social skills.”

“He probably heard it on a podcast. Next episode! This is not the option,” the player said. “He tried to bring the team together. It was a terrible, terrible reference. He missed.

McDermott has been the Bills coach since 2017, leading the team to five postseason berths in six seasons and a 68-41 record to date.

However, the reigning AFC East champions are in danger of missing the playoffs this year with a 6-6 record heading into Week 14.