Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had just one head coach for his entire NFL career, joining Sean McDermott one year after the Bills broke their 17-year playoff drought and turning the franchise into perennial Super Bowl contenders.
But Allen is now facing a future of uncertainty after the Bills abruptly fired McDermott, and the Pro Bowl quarterback is sparking some concern with his silence on the move. While several other Bills players have issued statements in support of McDermott, Allen has yet to make a statement, leaving a mystery as to his thoughts and potential role in the head coach’s dismissal.
Josh Allen Yet to Speak on Sean McDermott Firing
McDermott’s firing reportedly came as a surprise to many players, some of whom found out when contacted by reporters. Though McDermott had a reputation as a demanding coach, he grew close to many of the team’s longtime players — and several left sad messages on social media.
That included left tackle Dion Dawkins, the longest-tenured player on offense, who shared a message of support for McDermott.
But Allen has not yet posted on social media — which he rarely does — or spoken to reporters to reveal his feelings on McDermott’s firing.
Reporter Bill Wolcott of the Democrat & Chronicle noted that it was unusual for Allen to remain silent on such a major change on the team.
“Several Bills players took to social media to express their feelings about their former coach, but the biggest Bills player of them all was curiously silent,” Wolcott wrote. “Quarterback Josh Allen posted nothing on social media about the only head coach he’s played for during his eight-year NFL career.”
Wolcott added that Allen skipped out on his normal end-of-season press conference, though he was not alone in remaining quiet on McDermott’s firing.
“That aligns with something veteran Bills reporter Sal Maiorana noted on Monday — that Allen was neither present nor available to speak to reporters as the team cleaned out its lockers on Sunday,” Wolcott wrote. “He has always been available on that day in previous years. However, Allen was hardly the only silent Bill. Others like Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Khalil Shakir and Matt Milano didn’t react on social.”
Josh Allen’s Role in Sean McDermott Firing Unclear
While there is no indication that Allen played a role in McDermott’s firing, or that he advocated for a change at the top, some insiders believe that the Bills quarterback had been consulted on the change.
ESPN reporter Alaina Getzenberg suggested that the team likely gave Allen advanced notice, which may have been a factor in his decision to skip out on meeting reporters during locker clean-out day.
“McDermott isn’t being fired if quarterback Josh Allen doesn’t have a certain awareness,” Getzenberg wrote. “Allen’s importance in the building cannot be underestimated, and maximizing his prime is a large part of making this move. After a very emotional Saturday evening for the franchise quarterback, for the first time, Allen did not have a news conference during the team’s locker room clean out on Sunday, a sign that something was afoot.”
Josh Allen Sparks Concern With Silence on Sean McDermott Firing