NFL Coach Apologizes for Motivational Speech About 9/11 Hijackers
Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott issued an apology this week after a report from Go Long revealed that he had once cited the 9/11 hijackers as a good example of teamwork.
“My intent in that meeting that day was to discuss the importance of communication and being on the same page with the team,” McDermott told reporters about his speech. “I regretted mentioning 9/11 in my message that day, and I immediately apologized to the team. Not only was 9/11 a horrific event in our country’s history, but a day that I lost a good family friend.”
According to Go Long’s report, McDermott gave a motivational speech in 2019 to players at St. John Fisher College where he referenced the 9/11 terrorists as an example of people were “all able to get on the same page to orchestrate attacks to perfrection.” He then reportedly asked players “what tactics do you think. they used to come together?”
Sean McDermott said he plans to meet with the team this evening to address his comments from 2019 about 9/11 that came to light today in @TyDunne‘s article.
“I regretted, and apologized, for me not doing a good job of clearly communicating my point.” @BuffaloPlus pic.twitter.com/ed0Hwr6muW
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) December 7, 2023
“If anyone misinterpreted or didn’t understand my message, I apologize,” McDermott continued. “I didn’t do a good enough job of communicating clearly the intent of my message. That was about the importance of communication and that everyone needs to be on the same page, ironically enough. So that was important to me then and still is now.”
McDermott has coached the Buffalo Bills for the last seven seasons, where he has helped transform the team into a more competitive force in the NFL. The Bills have gone 6–6 this season, however, a disappointing result for the three-time defending AFC champions.
Here’s the instance that @TyDunne reported on that Bills’ HC Sean McDermott addressed this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/PeFDbPLRc7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 7, 2023
