The Buffalo Bills recently fired head coach Sean McDermott following the team’s 33-30 overtime loss against the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. McDermott has battled skin cancer previously.
After his dismissal as head coach, some are wondering if the head coach’s previous struggles might have played a hand in the firing decision.
Sean McDermott Health: Everything to Know About Bills HC’s Struggles
Sean McDermott revealed that he had suffered squamous cell carcinoma several times in 2021. The former Bills head coach also mentioned battling with basal cell cancer. Both are types of skin cancer.
“I’ve had squamous cell carcinoma several times. As late as last year during the season, I had three spots on the top of my head,” McDermott said.
In 2017, McDermott had undergone Mohs surgery to treat skin cancer lesions.
Back then, McDermott revealed that his family had a history of skin cancer.
“My grandfather had it on his lip,” McDermott said.
When he was growing up, the head coach’s mom would not allow him to get tanned under the sun.
“Listen, I’d love to tan and maybe that’s part of my problem,” McDermott said via WIVB4 in Buffalo. “You know, wanting to get a tan when I was younger and not wearing sunblock or not listening to my mom and dad when they’d say wear sunblock, wear sunblock. I’m like, ‘No, I wanna get a tan because it looks so cool to have that tan.’”
McDermott said he frequently visited a dermatologist and developed a nice relationship. He mentioned that whenever he fears any kind of indication to skin cancer, he would send the photo to his dermatologist, who would then take appropriate action.
Taking reference to the deaths of former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and former Washington head coach Ron Rivera, McDermott made fans aware about the importance of wearing sun-protective clothing and sunblock.
“To see a man struck down in such a short amount of time by skin cancer sent a message to me that, hey – I better pay attention,” McDermott said via Skin Cancer.org. “This guy I looked up to, a guy who was so strong and seemingly invincible in my eyes, it made this skin cancer message real.”
This also affected McDermott’s daily routine. When it’s practice, he’s out for like three or four hours, it’s maximum two hours.
McDermott revealed the kind of precautions he takes to avoid skin cancer.
“That’s why I wear long-sleeve shirts with sun protection in them, sun-protective long pants and a wide-brimmed hat,” McDermott said. “I also wear sunscreen with an SPF of above 50. I keep a hat in my car because I never know when I’m going to get caught outside going to my children’s sporting events or playing golf. I always want to be prepared and I’m always trying to err on the side of caution.”
Despite his health struggles, McDermott’s firing had nothing to do with it and instead it was his 8-8 postseason record and no Super Bowl appearance despite having a great team.
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