At a Glance
- Terry Pegula fired Sean McDermott after seeing Josh Allen sob in the locker room
- Allen ignored Pegula, sitting “listless” after the Denver Broncos loss
- The quarterback blamed himself for the overtime interception that ended the season
- Why it matters: The emotional scene triggered the biggest coaching change in Buffalo since 2017
Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula pointed to one raw moment in the locker room-quarterback Josh Allen hunched over, crying and unresponsive-as the catalyst for firing head coach Sean McDermott less than 72 hours after the team’s playoff elimination.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Pegula, 74, described walking through the locker room after the January 17 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. He spotted Allen first.
“I looked around, the first thing I noticed was our quarterback with his head down, crying,” Pegula said at a press conference on January 21.
He approached Allen to discuss the interception that flipped possession in overtime. The quarterback never looked up.
“I walked over to Josh, he didn’t even acknowledge I was there,” Pegula said. “He sat there sobbing. He was listless.”
The Play That Broke the Season
Midway through overtime, Allen connected with wide receiver Brandin Cooks on 3rd-and-11. Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian ripped the ball away as both players hit the turf. Officials ruled it an interception.
Denver kicked the game-winning field goal on the ensuing drive, ending Buffalo’s playoff run.
Pegula said the image of Allen’s tear-streaked face at the post-game podium sealed his decision.
“I saw the pain in Josh’s face at his presser, and I felt his pain,” he said. “I know we can do better, and I know we will get better.”
Allen Takes the Blame
At the podium minutes after the loss, Allen, 29, shouldered full responsibility.
“It’s extremely difficult,” he said, voice cracking. “I feel like I let my teammates down tonight.”
The quarterback, whose wife Hailee Steinfeld is expecting their first child, had thrown two interceptions in the game. He cited “missed opportunities throughout the game” and said the ending “is gonna stick with me for a long time.”
A Season Ends in Tears
Pegula said he surveyed the locker room and saw the same heartbreak on every player and coach. Yet Allen’s breakdown stood out.
“He had given everything he had to try to win that game,” Pegula said. “And looking around, so did all the other players on the team.”
The owner linked that emotional low directly to his choice to move on from McDermott, the coach he hired in 2017.
“My decision to bring in a new coach was based on the results of our game in Denver,” Pegula said. “I want to take you in the locker room after that game.”
Key Takeaways
- One locker-room scene convinced Pegula a coaching change was unavoidable
- Allen’s silent, tearful stare became the symbol of a season-ending collapse
- The quarterback’s post-game apology underscored his emotional investment
- Pegula acted within three days, ending McDermott’s tenure after the playoff defeat
