Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen on new coach Joe Brady: 'He's going to hold me to a very high standard, and I welcome that'

By Paul Lane

The crutches and walking boot worn by Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen on Thursday were a bit of a surprise. So, too, was it a bit surprising to some that he was involved in the team’s hiring process to find a new coach.

But, speaking after the Bills officially introduced Joe Brady as their new coach, Allen said it only makes sense to have an on-field leader present through the process, during which he played an advisory role. 

Allen said he’s recovering after breaking his fifth metatarsal, an injury that happened in the Bills’ game against Cleveland Dec. 21 and required surgery after weeks of playing through the pain. He bore the brunt of the blame for coach Sean McDermott’s dismissal last week and said he was happy to be part of the process to find his replacement. McDermott's 98 wins are second in team history behind Marv Levy, but McDermott's failure to guide the team to the Super Bowl had many wondering whether a generational talent in Allen, who will be 30 years old next season, would go to waste.

“I’d be lying to you if I sat here and didn’t say I had a part in it. If I made one more play in Denver, we probably wouldn’t be having this press conference. But this is the reality of it,” said Allen, alluding to the five turnovers the Bills surrendered in their divisional round loss to the Broncos.

Beane said the club asked Allen to advise during interviews to ask questions and offer perspective that executives might be lacking. For example, Allen said he could verify or refute points that candidates made about concepts they claimed were relevant to players.

Aside from leading a Bills offense that’s been among the league’s five best the past two seasons, Brady was lauded for the empathy he portrayed. While Allen has built a rapport with Brady since he joined the staff, both Brady and Allen said the QB did not play a direct role in the hire.

“I like the realness that he has. I’ve been able to live it in the quarterback room,” Allen said. “I do believe in his vision, what he’s talked about the last few years.”

Offensive lineman Spencer Brown, who was among several Bills players on hand Thursday, agreed. 

“I love the fact he’s his own person,” Brown said. “He doesn’t want to always wear a suit and tie. He wants to dress like the guys. We don’t have to … be so tight all the time.”

That approach should help carry the Bills into next season, when Brady hopes the league will have to adapt to the changes made by him and his to-be-hired staff.

“We want teams to go into a week knowing they have to play Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, and not the other way around,” Brady said.

Allen, who noted he will recover in time for spring practices in April, said he believes Brady to be the best person to help him achieve more.

“He’s in the dang building dang near all day. That’s not going to stop,” Allen said of Brady. “As much success as we’ve had the past eight or nine seasons, we still haven’t been able to get the main job done. I truly believe in the direction of this organization. 

"He's going to hold me to a very high standard, and I welcome that."