The Buffalo Bills lost in overtime to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs this past January. The Broncos moved on to the AFC championship game. The Bills went home.
Shortly after, team owner Terry Pegula concluded that the Bills had effectively reached a playoff wall under head coach Sean McDermott. After nine years, McDermott's tenure in Buffalo ended, and the team began searching for its next head coach. Buffalo has been eliminated in the divisional round in three of the past four seasons.
During that search, star quarterback Josh Allen was given a voice in the process. He sat in on candidate interviews and reviewed prospects alongside Bills management, according to Fox News Digital.
"It was different," Allen said. "There was no time to think about what happened before it was really on to the next... and (me) trying to help out as much as I can. It wasn't my decision, it's not my decision to (hire the coach) but to be in those interviews and (to) maybe present some ideas or present some questions that people hadn't thought of from a players point of view, it was really cool to see that side too. Hopefully I'm nowhere near done playing, but that whole front office mindset and seeing how it works was eye opening for me."
Allen also expressed appreciation for being included by team leadership.
"It was really interesting, it was really cool. I appreciate Mr. [Terry] Pegula and (Bills president of football operations and general manager) Brandon Beane for having me in those meetings and at least listening to what I had to say."
The Bills ultimately chose familiarity. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady was elevated to head coach. The move drew some criticism from those who pointed to Brady's presence on a staff tied to multiple frustrating playoff exits. His role had shifted over time, from quarterbacks coach to interim offensive coordinator and eventually full-time offensive coordinator before getting the top job.
For Allen, the change at the top has not felt abrupt. He said the existing relationship between the two has made the transition feel natural.
"It's pretty much the same, it's very authentic," Allen told Fox News Digital. "Joe comes off as the most real guy you'll every meet. However, he is cheering for the defense now, which is a new side that we didn't get to see as the offensive coordinator. Obviously he wants to kicks the defense's butt now. But, now I throw an interception, he's cheering for the defense because they made a play."
Allen also noted that Brady has committed fully to his broader responsibilities as head coach, not just the offensive side of the ball.
"It is cool though to see him buy into it (and) really take control of what that defense is doing. And he understands everything that they're doing," Allen said.
The Bills enter the season with Allen under center and a new head coach for the first time since 2017. Whether Brady can break the team's pattern of divisional-round exits remains the central question heading into the fall.
