The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean Mcdermott Monday morning and on Wednesday at the press conference, general manager Brandon Beane and owner Terry Pegula said quarterback Josh Allen would have input
on and be a part of the head coach search. They meant it.
Josh Allen has already been part of the Bills’ head coach interview process in the very beginning stage according to The Athletic. Diana Russini reports Allen is “sitting in for everything”. It’s unclear if Allen was in Buffalo on Wednesday and Thursday for their interviews in Western New York, or if he’s in Florida for this weekend’s scheduled interviews, or if he’s joining remotely. (I think the safe bet is he’s video conferencing in at this point.)
“Buffalo is making sure their best player, team leader, and face of the franchise is part of the hiring process. Josh Allen will have significant say on the next coach of the Buffalo Bills.”
The Bills could go one of several ways with the hire.
Bills head coach candidates with a previous relationship with Josh Allen
The Bills could add someone who has prior experience working with Josh Allen. Brian Daboll was his first offensive coordinator and a true father figure for Allen when he joined the NFL. Daboll would truly be one of the only people to push Allen and chew him out without alienating the league MVP.
Davis Webb was in that quarterback room with Daboll and Allen early in the young player’s career. They’ve watched tape together, eaten plenty of meals, and presumably had hundreds of conversations about football and beyond. They know how each other tick, even if Webb is only a year or so older than Allen. Closer to a brotherly relationship than a father/son dynamic.
Joe Brady has been around Allen since 2022 when he was named quarterbacks coach. He called plays from late 2023 through 2025. They performed very well scoring points and have a strong relationship, though I haven’t seen the same kind of bond mentioned between Allen/Brady as I’ve seen with Daboll and Webb.
Bills head coach candidates significantly older than Josh Allen could provide mentorship
There are a few Bills head coach candidates that have been around the NFL for a while that would have a mentorship relationship with Allen should they be hired.
Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is 59 and been in the NFL since 2012 and coaching since 1989.
Anthony Lynn was playing in the NFL before Josh Allen was born, and finished his career in 1999. He immediately joined an NFL coaching staff from there. He’s been around and seen every aspect of the NFL from multiple sides, including his time as an NFL head coach.
Bills head coach candidates closer to Josh Allen’s age could be more collaborative
Mike McDaniel and Anthony Weaver are in their 40s. They are slightly older than Allen.
McDaniel has 20 years of coaching experience while Weaver played from 2002 to 2008 and has been an NFL coach since 2012. It felt like he listened to players in Miami, potentially to a fault, and was a collaborator in the offense with older veterans like Tyreek Hill.
I’m not sure about McDaniel’s defensive coordinator Weaver. A former player usually listens to his players well, so I’d imagine that would be the path for Weaver.
That brings us to Grant Udinski, who is just four months older than Allen. How would the relatively inexperienced Udinski be able to work with and drive Allen? That’s a very real question the Bills need to answer if they’re going to hire the youngster.
