The coach of an American football team has apologised for using 9/11 hijackers as an example of teamwork in a meeting.
The head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Sean McDermott said he “regretted” making a reference to the “horrific” event and apologised to his team immediately.
An article detailing the team’s meeting in 2019 was published on Substack by NFL reporter Tyler Dunne.
McDermott credited the 9/11 attackers as an example of teamwork, according to the report, describing them “as a group of people who were able to get on the same page to orchestrate attacks to perfection.”
The 9/11 attack killed nearly 3000 people after hijacked planes crashed into to the World Trade Center, New York on 11 September 2011. It is known as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks worldwide.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, he said: “My intent in the meeting that day was to discuss the importance of communication and being on the same page with the team.”
Sean McDermott just addressed the 9/11 meeting referenced by @TyDunne's article published today. He said he plans on addressing this with the team later today once they get out of meetings. Here's the first few minutes of his comments from moments ago @WKBW pic.twitter.com/lKBdGVd8GV
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) December 7, 2023
"I regretted mentioning 9/11 in my message that day, and I immediately apologised 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."
He continued: "If anyone misinterpreted or didn't understand my message, I apologise.
“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 told the reporters he did not wish to “discuss” Dunne’s article and the other issues raised in it.
The 49-year-old became head coach of the team in 2017 and the Buffalo Bills have made four playoffs since then.
He has been credited with transforming the Buffalo franchise into one of the NFL’s most successful teams.
