My job is to allow QB Josh Allen to be ‘a better version of himself’

Allen has the awards, earning an NFL MVP, four Pro Bowls, two second-team All-Pro nods, numerous records, and division titles. What he doesn’t have is top-shelf postseason success. The Bills are 8-7 in the postseason with Allen under center and have been unable to get over the AFC Championship hump while losing in the Divisional Round in four of the past five years.

Brady’s tasked with taking a roster with holes heading into the 2026 offseason and getting them further than McDermott ever could. In the new coach’s mind, that starts with Allen and cascades to the rest of the roster.

“17 sets the tone of the culture,” Brady said. “The men in the locker room set the culture, regardless of who the head coach is, and it’s my job to make sure that I’m allowing them to be their personality, allowing them to play to their personality because that’s what the culture is. Like I said, I understand the expectations that come with this job, but it’s important to understand that this is going to be a new year and that we have to start over. We don’t just get to pick up where we left off and think that, hey, we’re in the position that, hey, next [year] we’re going to be in the conference championship game.”

As he did after the Bills’ playoff loss, Allen, who had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot, took ownership of his part in the coaching change.

“I feel like I had a part in it because if I make one more play, that game in Denver, we’re probably not having this press conference right now,” Allen said. “We’re probably not making a change. In all honesty, we’re probably getting ready to play another game.

“I’m very fortunate and thankful for coach McDermott and the trajectory that he set for our players. At that same time, I’m very [much] looking forward to Joe and everything that entails with him becoming the head coach and guys getting behind him and rallying behind him and understanding his vision because I do believe in it.”

If that vision doesn’t get the Bills to a Super Bowl over the next few seasons, this will all be for naught.