A sobbing Josh Allen was the final straw for Terry Pegula.
Speaking to the media Wednesday after the firing of longtime head coach Sean McDermott, Bills owner Pegula said the fallout from Saturday’s divisional-round playoff loss to the Broncos played a role in his decision to make a change at coach, particularly a disheartening locker room scene with Allen among the players crying, according to ESPN.
Pegula “said that Allen didn’t even acknowledge him at first,” and “he saw the pain at his presser and felt that they could do better.”
A tearful Allen said he let his teammates down following the 33-30 overtime loss in Denver.
The win-or-go-home matchup wasn’t without controversy, specifically a long throw from Allen to wide receiver Brandin Cooks in overtime that was ruled an interception.
Pegula said he did not fire McDermott Monday based on a “bad officiating decision,” but noted that the decision came “based on the results of our game in Denver.”
Pegula also called out the decision-making of the coaching staff in a testy turn, stating Wednesday they “pushed” to draft embattled wide receiver Keon Coleman and that he was not a top selection for the newly appointed president of football operations and general manager, Brandon Beane.
Coleman, a second-round pick in 2024, was a healthy scratch in November after missing a meeting.
McDermott ended his nine-year run in Buffalo with a 98-50 mark in the regular season and an 8-8 record in the playoffs.
The Bills are currently on the hunt for their next coach, with ESPN reporting Wednesday they’ve requested an interview with their former offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll.
Daboll, who served as the Giants’ head coach for three-and-a-half seasons before his November firing, interviewed for the Titans’ vacancy, which went to ex-Jets coach Robert Saleh.
Allen, who forged a close relationship with Daboll during the coach’s four-year run in Buffalo, will be involved in the process of selecting the team’s next coach, per ESPN.
The Bills are one of six coaching openings that include the Ravens, Steelers, Cardinals, Raiders and Browns.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
