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.

“My decision to bring in a new coach was based on the results of our game in Denver,” Pegula began. “I want to take you in the locker room after that game. I looked around, the first thing I noticed was our quarterback with his head down, crying. 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.

An emotional Josh Allen spoke to the press following the Bills’ overtime loss to the Broncos in the playoffs on Jan. 17, 2026. Youtube/Buffalo Bills

“… He sat there sobbing; he was listless. He had given everything he had to try to win that game. And looking around, so did all the other players on the team. I saw the pain in Josh’s face at his presser, and I felt his pain. I know we can do better, and I know we will get better.”

A tearful Allen said he let his teammates down following the 33-30 overtime loss, which included a controversial moment in the game’s extra minutes.

Allen tossed a pass to wide receiver Brandin Cooks that was ruled an interception, although it was speculated Cooks was already down before Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian gained possession.

Terry Pegula on the decision to fire Sean McDermott was an emptional one after he saw the pain in Josh Allen’s face after an OT loss in the playoffs

“My decision to bring in a new coach was based on the results of our game in Denver… We can do better and we will do better” pic.twitter.com/dEvCi2kqvZ

— Mike Catalana (@MikeCatalana) January 21, 2026

A “bad officiating decision” did not factor into McDermott’s firing on Monday, according to Pegula, who also called out the decision-making of the coaching staff as Wednesday’s press conference took a testy turn.

Pegula stated 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.

Terry Pegula spoke about the firing of coach Sean McDermott on Jan. 21, 2026. AP

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.

Sean McDermott was fired in January 2026 after nine seasons as Buffalo’s head coach. AP

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.