October 25, 2025 | ADPRO Sports Training Center, Orchard Park, New York
This week, the Buffalo Bills will take the field without safety Taylor Rapp in their Week 8 matchup — not due to injury, but because of a disciplinary decision made by head coach Sean McDermott following a locker room incident that violated team conduct standards.
According to multiple team sources, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening after the team’s main practice. When most players had already left, a young equipment intern was finishing his duties in the locker room. During a brief exchange, Rapp made an inappropriate remark that left the staff member feeling disrespected and emotionally hurt, prompting him to quietly leave the area.
Unaware that Coach McDermott had just entered the room and overheard the entire comment, Rapp was caught off guard when the coach looked at him and said calmly:
“See me first thing tomorrow morning.”
The next day, McDermott called a full team meeting. Without mentioning Rapp by name, his message was clear and powerful enough to silence the entire room:
“Wearing the Buffalo Bills logo is an honor — but it’s also a responsibility. Every person in this building matters, from the players on the field to the people who keep it running behind the scenes. If you can’t show respect off the field, then you haven’t earned the right to represent this team on it.”
After the meeting, McDermott announced that Taylor Rapp would not play in Week 8 as a disciplinary measure. One veteran player described the mood as “completely silent.”
“Coach wasn’t angry — he was disappointed,” the player said. “And somehow, that made it hit even harder.”
Later that day, Rapp personally approached the staff member to apologize, and the apology was accepted. However, McDermott stood by his decision, calling it “a necessary lesson” for the entire team.
“Talent might get you noticed,” McDermott told his players. “But respect is what keeps you here.”
As the Bills enter one of the most crucial stretches of their season, McDermott’s firm action has sent a message throughout the organization — in Buffalo, discipline and character will always come before victory.
