The Buffalo Bills are entering a pivotal offseason, and they’re doing it with a bold move at the top: Joe Brady has been named the team’s new head coach. The promotion comes on the heels of Sean McDermott’s departure following Buffalo’s playoff exit at the hands of the Denver Broncos. Brady, who took over as offensive coordinator midseason and helped spark a late surge, now gets the keys to a team still very much built around one of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks: Josh Allen.
But the start of this new era arrived with an unsettling visual. Allen showed up to Brady’s introductory press conference on crutches, wearing a walking boot.
According to GM Brandon Beane, the quarterback may need a procedure on his foot this offseason. That’s not the kind of image you want kicking off your offseason if you’re a Bills fan.
Allen had been gutting through the injury late in the year, and while it didn’t stop him from delivering some jaw-dropping moments in the playoffs - especially in that road win over Jacksonville - it’s clear he wasn’t operating at 100%. Even so, he carried the offense with a mix of power and improvisation that’s become his trademark. In that Jaguars game, he was nothing short of electric, extending plays, lowering his shoulder, and finding ways to move the chains when it mattered most.
The following week against Denver, though, was a different story. Allen still made some highlight-reel plays, but the turnovers piled up.
Josh Allen in the house. (On crutches.) pic.twitter.com/USG2rg7b8C
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) January 29, 2026
A costly fumble before halftime gave the Broncos three free points, and a controversial interception in overtime sealed Buffalo’s fate. It was a frustrating end to a season that had seen the Bills rally from midseason struggles to make a serious postseason push.
Despite the ups and downs, Allen’s status as the face of the franchise isn’t in question. He remains one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the league - a player capable of changing a game with his arm, his legs, or both.
The concern now is his health. The foot injury clearly lingered through the back half of the season, and if a procedure is indeed necessary, the clock starts ticking on his recovery.
For Joe Brady, this is the beginning of a new chapter. His connection with Allen will be central to whatever success the Bills hope to achieve moving forward. And for Allen, the focus shifts to getting healthy - because as he goes, so go the Bills.