Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has not spoken to the media since the team’s abrupt decision to fire head coach Sean McDermott, but the team’s owner revealed the part he played — or did not play — in the decision.
Allen normally holds a media session at the team’s locker cleanout day after the season ends, but avoided reporters this year and had not yet put out a statement. That led to speculation about what part he may have played in McDermott’s ouster.
Team co-owner Terry Pegula cleared the air, telling reporters on Wednesday that firing McDermott was his sole decision.
Josh Allen Had No Say in Dramatic Move
Speaking alongside Brandon Beane at a press conference, Pegula revealed that Allen had no input into the decision to fire McDermott.
“Terry Pegula said Josh Allen did not have any input on the decision to fire Sean McDermott,” noted reporter Matt Bove in a post on X.
Allen did play a role in the decision, though indirectly. Pegula said he visited Buffalo’s locker room after the crushing 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday, revealing that his interaction with Allen played a role his decision to fire McDermott.
“I looked around, first thing I noticed was our quarterback with his head down, crying,” Pegula said, via The Athletic. “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. First thing I said to him, I said, ‘That was a catch.’ ”
Pegula added that he disagreed with the overtime interception call, with referees awarding possession to Broncos defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian during a contested catch with Bills receiver Brandin Cooks — but said that it was the loss overall that made him decide to fire McDermott.
“I did not fire coach based on a bad officiating decision,” Pegula said. “If I can take you into that locker room, I felt like we hit the proverbial playoff wall year after year – 13 seconds, missed field goal, the catch. So I just sensed in that locker room, like, ‘Where do we go from here with what we have?’ And that was the basis for my decision.”
Pegula listed off the team’s playoff seeding under McDermott, noting that they were never able to get over the hump.
“I go back to 5-2-3-2-2-2-6,” Pegula said. “Great roster, good coaching, no Super Bowl appearance. I can’t emphasize, if I could put you all in that room after the game, it’s like, ‘How do we overcome this?’ It’s been one year after another. I just couldn’t see us doing that with Sean. That’s why I relieved him.”
Bills Start Search for New Coach
The Bills have already lined up several potential candidates to succeed McDermott, with Beane leading the search in his new role as president of football operations.
The team is reportedly looking at Brian Daboll, who served as McDermott’s offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021 before becoming head coach of the New York Giants. The Buffalo native maintained a close relationship with Allen, helping him develop from a raw but talented rookie into one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.
Bills Owner Reveals Josh Allen’s Role in Sean McDermott Firing