Photo courtesy of Sean McDermott
Supporters of Sean McDermott, former coach of the Buffalo Bills, wouldn’t let him stay sidelined for long. They showed their support with a fundraising drive for The Skin Cancer Foundation in his honor. Talk about a comeback after a loss!
When Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills parted ways early in 2026 after his nine seasons as head coach, the fans, known as Bills Mafia, snapped into action to honor their beloved coach, turning a tough loss for the team into a big win in the fight against skin cancer.
The Game Plan: An Offensive Drive for Good
Soon after the news broke on January 19, members of Bills Mafia came up with a game plan on Reddit and Facebook. They decided to thank Coach McDermott by donating in his honor to a cause close to his heart: The Skin Cancer Foundation.
During his time with the Bills, Coach McDermott had worked with the Foundation on a skin cancer awareness PSA and blog story following his own battle with the disease. In just a few hours, the fundraising drive went viral among his many fans, launching a blitz of generosity with unstoppable momentum.
The Scoreboard
Meanwhile, at the Foundation, the team was thrilled and thankful to see their inboxes overflowing with notifications, as donations steadily poured in over the course of several weeks. More than 2,200 Bills fans participated in the fundraising drive, and total donations in Coach McDermott’s honor surpassed $72,000.
“We are grateful to Coach McDermott for inspiring fans to join the fight against skin cancer,” says Becky Kamowitz, executive director of the Foundation. “This tremendous support will advance our lifesaving work and make a difference for the millions of people we help every year.” Some donations came in meaningful increments that served as a highlight reel of special moments in the coach’s time with the team:
- $20.17 to commemorate 2017, the year that McDermott broke the Bill’s 17-year playoff drought.
- $106.00 to represent the 106 career wins the coach notched on the Bill’s sidelines.
- $9.00 in honor of his nine seasons as head coach.
Many donors expressed their love and support by leaving personal messages for Coach McDermott, thanking him for his time with the team and for sharing his skin cancer story. “One donor wrote a note about her mom, who was motivated to get a skin exam after watching Coach’s PSA,” says Kamowitz. “She was diagnosed with melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer, that may have gone untreated if it wasn’t for McDermott’s message.”
Hall of Fame Impact
In April 2026, the Foundation announced that the funds raised in Coach McDermott’s honor will help tackle skin cancer head-on. A portion will support Destination Healthy Skin, the Foundation’s free skin cancer screening and education program.
A larger portion, $50,000, is earmarked for a 2026 initiative: The McDermott Family Research Grant, to fund a study around the prevention, detection or treatment of skin cancer. “My family and I were moved and honored that the fans would show their support in such a meaningful and impactful way,” says McDermott. “We’ll never take for granted the way the entire community embraced us from day one or how they continue to exemplify the class, generosity and goodwill that makes Buffalo such a special place in our hearts.”
Moments like this shine a spotlight on the lasting impact that sports figures and their fans can have when rallying behind a cause. McDermott’s time in Buffalo has ended, but his legacy will continue in the hearts of his fans, and in the fight against skin cancer. Touchdown!
