Podcast Summary: Buffalo Plus – LESEAN 'Shady' MCCOY Talks JOSH ALLEN, the Bills SUPER BOWL Chances, and His Love of BillsMafia

Podcast: Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast
Episode: LeSean 'Shady' McCoy talks Josh Allen, the Bills Super Bowl chances, and his love of BillsMafia
Date: November 21, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Guest: LeSean “Shady” McCoy, former Bills and Eagles running back, future Hall of Famer

Episode Overview

This energetic and candid episode features former Bills star running back LeSean McCoy, who shares his insider perspective on playing with Josh Allen, evaluating the Bills’ Super Bowl chances, and his enduring affection for BillsMafia. The Buffalo Plus crew dives deep into the evolution of the franchise under Sean McDermott, Allen’s rise from raw rookie to elite quarterback, differences between Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, culture-building in Buffalo, and what a Super Bowl would mean to the city and its fans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Josh Allen’s Arrival, Growth, and Competitive Fire

First Impressions of Josh Allen

• McCoy jokes about Allen’s Wyoming background:

  “God dang, coach. I mean, can you simplify it? The kid went to Wyoming. Super. A lot of talent. I mean, that's the first thing you've seen when he played. So he was definitely a unique rookie...”
  (00:08, 07:47)

• Initial skepticism about drafting a rookie QB while McCoy was a veteran; concern about being part of a rebuild.

Allen’s Talents & Development

• Recalls Allen’s rookie splash with a memorable hurdle vs the Vikings:

  “I'm thinking like, dang, this is the worst we'll ever see Josh Allen as a rookie. And now you see him each year get better and better and better…”
  (06:24)

• Allen’s unexpected speed—clocked at 20 mph in practice—his elusiveness, and willingness to compete physically.

• Allen’s relentless competitiveness:

  “Josh does not want to lose in any sport, any game. And that's what makes him so special...”
  (03:46)

Clutch Factor & Leadership

• Praises Allen’s ability to take over games during clutch moments, ranking him with QBs like Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson:

  “When it's clutch moments, he's going to take over. And that's why he should be your MVP this season.” (05:08)

2. Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes – Similarities, Differences, and What’s Missing

• McCoy sees Mahomes and Allen as “super similar” in talent and clutch gene, but highlights how Mahomes benefits from a stable, elite culture crafted by Andy Reid and the Chiefs front office:

  “No matter how bad the game is going ... [Mahomes] finds a way to win. I think Josh has to get a little bit better with that of ... getting them more clutch plays. Clutch wins when you need it most.” (12:45)

• Reid’s role in developing Mahomes and maintaining a Super Bowl-caliber franchise is highlighted as a key difference.

• Mahomes’ advice to McCoy about deep passing contests:

  “Pat's laughing, he said, well, shady, we'll never know because it's a lose, lose ... this dude can really throw the ball.” (10:03)

3. Culture Shift under Sean McDermott

• McCoy highlights McDermott’s leadership, ability to unify the organization, and emphasize “playoff caliber football”:

  “Sean's tremendous. Sean's a great coach, super smart. He's the type of coach that players want to love to play for ... He's a great leader, you know, and you talk about changing culture.” (13:16)

• Explains culture change is difficult; requires not only coaching but finding coachable players and true belief in the coach’s vision.

4. Standout Young Players and Unsung Heroes

• Praises running back James Cook’s emergence as a feature back, noting his explosive, strong, and competitive play:

  “Now what I see now, like two different people. And whoever turned that light on, he looks different. He's one of my favorite backs to watch. A lot of talent.” (15:33)

• Highlights Khalil Shakir’s dependability and the importance of role players for championship teams:

  “It's guys like him who's dependable no matter what, right? ... those guys, you need to win championships.” (17:08)

5. Bills' Super Bowl Prospects & Chiefs’ Dominance

• McCoy’s Super Bowl picks:

  “The Chiefs and the Lions or the Eagles ... there might be better teams that might be playing better, but yeah, until somebody goes and beat them dudes, I ... How can you not pick them to go to the dance?” (18:37, 20:00)

• On Allen and the Bills needing to prove it in the postseason, not just regular season wins over Mahomes.

• As a fan and former player, McCoy wants to see both Allen and the Bills fans get their Super Bowl, but also roots for the Chiefs’ potential three-peat, in part due to his loyalty to Andy Reid.

6. BillsMafia and Fan Culture

• Expresses deep affection for BillsMafia, comparing their passion to Eagles fans:

  “No matter what the team is doing, bad or good, they gonna support, right? And they love their Bills ... It was something special. This, it shows you how appreciative the fans were.” (21:34, 22:42)

• Describes the emotional significance of ending the playoff drought and the city-wide joy, with fans meeting the team after the pivotal win.

7. Reflections on Hall of Fame Chances and NFL Career

• McCoy discusses his Hall of Fame résumé and gratitude for Buffalo’s role in his legacy:

  “I think I'll get in. Right? I mean, something I think about for sure... I look at myself in the same light [as Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters, Frank Gore].” (24:20)

• Frank Gore told him he gained more respect for McCoy’s years in Buffalo due to leading less talented teams.

8. Famous “Dak Prescott” Media Clip & Media Career

• McCoy stands by his famous take on Dak Prescott, describing Dak as “a good quarterback” but not elite:

  “I don't know if he's like elite. I don't know if he's a 60 million dollar quarterback. I don't know if he elevates the team like the other elite quarterbacks...” (26:41)

• McCoy mentions avoiding repeating his more controversial past quotes to avoid trouble with his mom!

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Allen’s competitive fire:
  “Josh does not want to lose in any sport, any game. And that's what makes him so special.” (03:46, LeSean McCoy)

• On Mahomes vs Allen:
  “People think I'm crazy when I say this, but they are so similar. Super similar.” (13:05, LeSean McCoy)

• On Sean McDermott’s leadership:
  “Sean's a great coach, super smart. He's the type of coach that players want to love to play for.” (13:16, LeSean McCoy)

• Bills fans’ devotion:
  “No matter what the team is doing, bad or good, they gonna support, right? ... it shows you how appreciative the fans were.” (21:34, 22:42, LeSean McCoy)

• On culture change:
  “When Sean spoke, you believed it. Because everything he's telling you he's doing, he's given 110...” (14:29, LeSean McCoy)

Highlighted Segments

• Josh Allen as a rookie and his “hurdle” play (06:24, 07:47)
• Josh Allen vs Patrick Mahomes comparison (10:47–13:05)
• Sean McDermott’s impact and culture change (13:05–15:22)
• James Cook’s rise and role players’ importance (15:22–17:08)
• Super Bowl predictions and the AFC playoff picture (18:19–21:15)
• BillsMafia stories and drought-breaking memories (21:34–23:27)
• McCoy's Hall of Fame reflections (24:09–25:39)
• Dak Prescott’s evaluation and the viral “clip” (26:41)
• Personal anecdotes & behind-the-scenes media career (Throughout)

Memorable & Light Moments

• McCoy’s playful ribbing of Josh Allen over his Wyoming background
• Lively retelling of Bills fans’ celebrations and RV tailgates
• Candid sharing of personal doubts during Bills’ draft transitions
• Playful banter among hosts about their own experiences (after main interview)

Episode Tone

The episode is insightful, warm, humorous, and honest, with McCoy’s personality shining through. The hosts facilitate a relaxed, engaging conversation that blends nostalgia, football nuance, and genuine affection for the Buffalo community.

For listeners and Bills fans, this episode delivers rare, first-hand insights into the locker room dynamic as Buffalo’s culture shifted, what makes Josh Allen special, and why the Bills’ next playoff run can’t come soon enough for players and fans alike.