![\"Buffalo](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2243460825-1-1.jpg\")
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Buffalo Bills and quarterback Josh Allen may have already missed out on hiring the ideal coach to take Allen to the next level.<\/p>\n
Josh Allen<\/a> and the Buffalo Bills<\/a> will look very different during the 2026-27 season, since it will mark the team\u2019s first season in nearly a decade without longtime head coach Sean McDermott<\/a>. The Bills, of course, parted ways<\/a> with McDermott on Monday, January 19, after the team\u2019s high-profile loss on Saturday, January 17, 33-30 in overtime<\/a>\u00a0to the Denver Broncos<\/a> at Empower Field at Mile High.<\/p>\n Even though the Buffalo Bills decided to say farewell to McDermott, you\u2019d never know it from their social media. The team posted two tributes to the coach on social media on Tuesday, January 20, thanking McDermott for his time with the franchise.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t fair. Absolutely love what this man did for this team. Thank you, coach,\u201d one follower said on social media<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s not too late to reverse the decision,\u201d another said. \u201cAbsolutely heartbroken. \ud83d\udc94 Sean, thank you for everything you\u2019ve done. We hope you realize what you meant to this team and fanbase,\u201d one more added.<\/p>\n \u201cThis feels like a very generic, disappointing, and meaningless send off for a man who changed our culture and led us to multiple playoff appearances (regardless of the outcome),\u201d one more added<\/a>. \u201cNot to mention all that he and his wife have done for the city of Buffalo over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n But, the Buffalo Bills have made their decision. Now, they may have made that decision too late. There\u2019s one franchise that\u2019s happy the Bills didn\u2019t let McDermott go until after they signed a deal with their new head coach, and they\u2019re making that known.<\/p>\n Head Coach Would Have Been Ideal for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills<\/p>\n So, now, the Buffalo Bills are conducting interviews for their next head coach. But, the most sought-after available head coach on the market is already off the market.<\/p>\n On January 19, 2026, the New York Giants<\/a> secured a deal<\/a> with former Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh to make him the next head coach of their franchise. Now, the Giants and their quarterback Jaxson Dart will work with Harbaugh, as he tries to resurrect that dying, 4-13 franchise<\/a>.<\/p>\n Harbaugh was absolutely the most in-demand head coach on the market. He\u2019s known for his offensive mastermind and for crafting MVP-style quarterbacks, such as what he did with Lamar Jackson. Having Harbaugh with the Bills would have been absolutely dynamite.<\/p>\n Head Coach Would Have Made Sense for the Buffalo Bills<\/p>\n The Giants know they got lucky, because Harbaugh would have likely been interested in the Bills gig. But, now, it\u2019s too late, and he\u2019s signed his life over to the Giants, not to be dramatic.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Allen, the Bills are essentially guaranteed to be competitive every season, and Super Bowl aspirations are always on the mind,\u201d Tommy Jaggi of Gmen HQ notes<\/a> in a Wednesday, January 21, piece. Now, as the Bills begin their head coach search, the top candidate previously on the market\u2014John Harbaugh\u2014is already off the board.\u201d<\/p>\n Jaggi adds, with a sense of relief, \u201cThankfully, Harbaugh has already been signed, sealed, and delivered to New York. Now the respected long-time head coach will focus on aiding quarterback Jaxson Dart\u2014as he did with Lamar Jackson\u2014and taking this team to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n So, what could have been, we\u2019ll never know. But, it would have been fascinating to see what Harbaugh would have done with an already MVP-winning quarterback in Allen.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAnne Erickson<\/a> is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Bills\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t