It seems Josh Allen hasn’t been able to leverage any influence to prevent changes within the Buffalo Bills organization.
Allen expressed some gratitude, as relayed by a source close to him. Reports from Buffalo News say that former coach Sean McDermott, who spent eight seasons with the team before being let go following a 33-30 overtime loss to the Broncos, still has confidence in owner Terry Pegula and new president of football operations Brandon Beane.
During a lively press conference on Wednesday, Pegula sidestepped questions about how Allen feels about McDermott’s departure.
When asked about Allen’s thoughts on the coaching change, Pegula mentioned that Allen would be actively involved in choosing the new coach and emphasized that he wanted to keep more personal feelings private. He acknowledged not directly answering the query but rather implying that this was a decision he made alone.
Regardless of whether Allen is in support of, against, or indifferent to the coaching change, it’s reported that he will play a significant role in the upcoming search.
Star players might not write the checks, but they hold considerable influence within their organizations. It’s reasonable to think that Allen’s opinions matter, and that he’d be listened to during these critical discussions.
The partnership of Allen and McDermott brought notable regular season success, including seven straight playoff appearances, yet all of those postseason runs ended in disappointment.
Throughout the playoffs against the Chiefs, the team struggled, racking up a tough 0-4 record, including a particularly painful 13-second fiasco in 2022 and a humiliating home loss to the Bengals in the same season. Also, the defense couldn’t maintain a four-point lead in the waning minutes against the Broncos.
Such outcomes certainly raise questions about whether the Bills had truly hit their stride under McDermott.
“If only you could have witnessed that locker room,” Pegula remarked, reflecting on feeling like he was continuously butting against a metaphorical playoff wall. Moments like 13 seconds or missed opportunities weighed heavily on him.
“What I sensed in the locker room was uncertainty about our direction with the current roster. That was a significant factor in my choice,” he added.
The Bills are among the six teams with head coaching vacancies and have started their interviews. Among the candidates is Brian Daboll, a former Giants head coach and ex-offensive coordinator for Buffalo.
Other potential candidates include Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, current Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
