Sean McDermott claims report he used the 9/11 attacks as an example of teamwork in 2019 meeting was a 'hurtful attack on my character' - with Bills head coach 'NOT expected to lose his job' over shocking reference

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has hit back at a report that he used the 9/11 attacks as an example of teamwork in a 2019 speech. 

In a 2019 team meeting, chronicled on Tyler Dunne's 'Go Long' website, McDermott reportedly used the attacks on the Twin Towers to demonstrate 'the importance of communication and being on the same page with the team'. 

McDermott, while acknowledging that he is not perfect, described the 24 hours since the report's emergence as 'disappointing' and 'hurtful'. 

'It was clearly, to me, an attack on my character, and that's important to me, as much — if not more — than wins and losses,' he said of the report. 'Wins and losses are important. 

'What's important to me, from day one, is how you handle yourself. It doesn't mean I've been perfect. It doesn't mean I haven't been without flaw. But what's most important to myself, my family and kids, is that I handle this job the right way.'

He added: 'I know who I am. 'I know how I try to do things. Am I without flaw? No, I'm not without flaw and I say that humbly. I believe we try and do things right here. 

'It doesn't mean that everything we do is right, people are going to have their own opinions. I believe we've won a lot of games here since we've arrived and I'm confident in that. I'm confident in this football team. People are going to have their opinions, I can't control that.'

He added that he had spoken to his players about the comments again Thursday night, in particular the members of the team who hadn't been with the Bills back in 2019. 

Despite the shocking reference, McDermott's job is not thought to be at risk , according to Pro Football Talk. 

'McDermott's morning address began innocently enough,' Dunne wrote. 'He told the entire team they needed to come together. But then, sources on-hand say, he used a strange model: the terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. 

'He cited the hijackers as a group of people who were all able to get on the same page to orchestrate attacks to perfection. One by one, McDermott started asking specific players in the room questions. 'What tactics do you think they used to come together?' A young player tried to methodically answer. 'What do you think their biggest obstacle was?' A veteran answered, 'TSA,' which mercifully lightened the mood.'

McDermott, who was described by an unnamed source as a 'robot' in the piece, acknowledged the truthfulness of the story on Thursday.

'My intent in 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 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.' 

In discussing McDermott's questionable choice of words in 2019, another unnamed player told Dunne that the coach's 'social skills are lacking.' 

'That's one where maybe he heard it on a podcast. Next episode! That's not the one to lead with,' the player said. 'He was trying to bring the team together. It was a horrible, horrible reference. He missed the mark.'

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 champs are in danger of missing the playoffs this year with a 6-6 record heading into Week 14.