How Josh Allen Played A Role In The Firing Of Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott

The Bills Mafia and Josh Allen were devastated after the team's divisional round playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. In the moments after the game, Allen, an eight-year NFL veteran, bowed his head as he spoke to the media, shouldering the blame for the team's agonizing loss through tears. His emotional response drew attention from fans across the league, sparking online discourse. According to the team's owner, Terry Pegula, Allen's emotions prompted something else, too: major change within the Buffalo Bills' organization.

The Bills' Saturday, January 17, loss to the Denver Broncos hit the New York-based team hard, including Allen, who openly wept over the defeat in front of reporters. "I feel like I let my team down," he said.

"It's been a long season. I hate how it ended! It’s going to stick with me for a long time," he added.

The loss also follows seven consecutive seasons of reaching the playoffs only to fall short, according to The Blast. Allen also delivered a subpar performance with a record-high four turnovers.

"We can’t win with five turnovers," he said. "Fumbled twice, threw two [interceptions]. When you shoot yourself in the foot like that, you don’t deserve to win football games."

Despite the challenges in the game, Allen and the Bills almost overcame them, trading leads with the Colorado-based team multiple times throughout the second half.

"We were battle-tested all year, down two scores at halftime. Come out, sack, fumble, hold them to three [points]. We find ourselves leading that game … if one or two plays go our way, it’s a different story," he said.

Close calls offer little solace in the NFL, though. Days after the loss, news broke that the Bills had fired head coach Sean McDermott, who had been with the team since 2017.

"Sean has done an [admirable] job of leading our football team the past nine seasons," Pegula said in a statement, per CBS Sports. "But I feel we are in a need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia."

Speaking with reporters in a Wednesday, January 21 press conference, Pegula addressed McDermott's firing, citing the loss to Denver as the catalyst. Pegula also mentioned that Allen's demeanor after the game heavily influenced his decision to part ways with McDermott, who has worked with other NFL teams, such as the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers, in the past.

"I want to take you in the locker room after that game. I looked around, the first thing I noticed was our quarterback with his head down, crying," Pegula said. "I looked at all the other players. I looked at their faces and our coaches. I walked over to Josh, he didn’t even acknowledge I was there."

Continuing, Pegula mentioned trying to speak with Allen about what might have gone wrong toward the end of the game; however, he said the Wyoming alum appeared despondent and remained unresponsive.

"He sat there sobbing," Pegula recalled.  "He was listless. He had given everything he had to try to win that game. And looking around, so did all the other players on the team. I saw the pain in Josh’s face at his presser, and I felt his pain. I know we can do better, and I know we will get better."

Allen's response sparked mixed reactions online, with many encouraging the quarterback to keep his head up despite the game's adversity.

"You didn't let your teammates down, you did your best," someone said, while another wrote, "Don't be hard on yourself. We go again next time."

Other users questioned why some people weren't being as critical of Allen as people were of quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson or Jalen Hurts.

"Man, what the f-ck is happening?!!! Is Josh Allen a Make-A-Wish quarterback?" someone asked.

"I find myself always rooting against the Bills/Josh Allen. Mainly because the media coddles and protects him," another shared. "He is actually a h-ll of a QB ... but they gave him that sympathy MVP and it just pissed me off."

"It’s not even that I hate Josh Allen as a player. I’m just over people acting like he’s the best qb in the nfl when he consistently chokes in big moments," someone else posted.