The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Inside Buffalo Bills Hidden Drama: Josh Allen, Sean McDermott, Chiefs Rivalry

Date: January 22, 2026
Guests: Tyler Dunne (Go Long Substack founder)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the unraveling drama within the Buffalo Bills organization after another playoff disappointment. Colin Cowherd and investigative NFL journalist Tyler Dunne break down the recent bombshell press conference, dissect the decision to fire head coach Sean McDermott, scrutinize the relationship between ownership, GM Brandon Beane, and the media, and discuss front-runner Brian Daboll as a potential replacement. The conversation then pivots to broader NFL topics, including the Packers' culture under Matt LaFleur and the Patriots’ rapid resurgence with Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Explosive Buffalo Bills Press Conference

[04:30] - [08:32]

• Owner Terry Pegula Calls Out Keon Coleman: During the Bills’ season-ending press conference, owner Terry Pegula defended GM Brandon Beane against criticism for his draft record and appeared critical of wide receiver Keon Coleman.
  • Quote: “For a billionaire, that's not a ton of self-awareness. ... You just don’t need to bring that up.” – Colin Cowherd [02:42]
  • Tyler Dunne describes the atmosphere as “uncomfortable” and “awkward,” noting that such transparency about internal disputes is rare for NFL owners.
• Internal Blame and Transparency: Pegula brings public attention to who selected Coleman and challenges what the Bills consider as success after seven straight playoff appearances without a Super Bowl.
  • “Is that success? Is that success? ... If you want to get to the playoffs and lose, we've done that. Do we want to win a Super Bowl? Do we want something more?” – Tyler Dunne quoting Pegula [05:55]
• McDermott’s Stagnation: Consensus that McDermott’s inability to lead the Bills past the AFC’s elite, despite a talented roster, was the impetus for firing him.
  • “At the end of the day, it's been a decade with arguably the best player in the league, and what do you have to show for it?” – Tyler Dunne [05:32]

2. Brandon Beane’s Record as GM

[07:19] - [12:39]

• Beane’s cap management is lauded, but his personnel and draft record are debated.
  • “Since Josh Allen, 55 draft picks, two Pro Bowlers. Is it fair criticism?” – Tyler Dunne [08:14]
• Both hosts agree WR—the position Coleman plays—is a notorious draft bust spot even for esteemed franchises and GMs.
  • “Belichick couldn’t draft one... Andy Reid ... Sky Moore, Rashee Rice ... always in trouble.” – Cowherd [12:01]
• Dunne runs through the repeated playoff defensive failures under McDermott, outlining how the inability to get stops at crucial times defined the team’s ceiling.

3. The McDermott-Beane Partnership & the “13 Seconds” Legacy

[13:54] - [25:06]

• The infamous “13 seconds” loss to the Chiefs looms large. Dunne reports McDermott overruled his staff, leading to the disastrous execution and, crucially, refused to accept responsibility in its aftermath.
  • “Not only does this really traumatic by football standards moment happen, there's really no ownership, there's really no accountability in that moment. ... That has kind of been a dark cloud over this team.” – Tyler Dunne [22:25]
• Debate over whether the Bills should have executed a "Doug Collins to Phil Jackson" transition and moved on from McDermott while the team was still rising.
  • “If you could rewrite history... that would have been a moment to move on to a new coach... after 13 seconds.” – Tyler Dunne [24:56]

4. Brian Daboll as the Potential Next Head Coach

[13:54] - [16:41]

• Dabble’s bond with Josh Allen is seen as foundational to Allen’s success.
  • “He was like a father figure for Josh Allen here. ... They were unbelievably close.” – Colin Cowherd [14:09]
  • A former player reportedly paused for 13 seconds before saying the Bills might have multiple Super Bowl wins if Daboll and Allen stayed together. [15:10]
• However, some internal concern from Giants tenure: noted disorganization and struggles with staff relationships.
  • “You should be able to learn from what went wrong. ... There’s game management stuff, which Daboll struggled with with the Giants.” – Tyler Dunne [16:28]

5. Buffalo’s Media Dynamic, Fan Base, and Final Days for McDermott

[16:41] - [25:06]

• Buffalo’s local media is more aggressive and critical than the market size suggests, holding team leadership publicly accountable.
  • “Buffalo’s media feels almost a responsibility. They know they're in the national spotlight and they've sharpened the saw.” – Colin Cowherd [17:24]
• Dunne explores how McDermott, after a long tenure, became more relatable and ingratiated himself with the community in his final year, complicating fan reactions to his firing.
  • Dunne describes how the “13 seconds” game psychologically impacted not only players but the entire building, lingering for seasons.

6. Pivot: Packers Culture and Matt LaFleur

[27:55] - [36:50]

• Dunne and Cowherd both credit Matt LaFleur for quarterback development (Rodgers, Love) but question his leadership qualities and culture-building ability.
  • “When McVay, Shanahan, and Matt LaFleur were together... McVay was the culture guy, Shanahan was the scheme guy, LaFleur was the nice guy.” – Colin Cowherd [31:47]
• Notable issues: repeated blown leads, inability to close games—blamed on coaching “DNA.”
  • “Five of their nine losses, they led by nine-plus points. ... If that's not coaching, I don't know what is.” – Tyler Dunne [34:01]
• A player reportedly told Dunne LaFleur would “freeze up” in big moments, leading to doubts about postseason potential.
  • “A player tell me that he could see and feel Matt LaFleur freeze up. In his words, in big moments.” – Tyler Dunne [35:29]

7. Patriots’ Transformation: Vrabel, Maye, McDaniels

[36:50] - [44:57]

• The transition from the “Patriot Way” under Belichick to a Vrabel-led regime is detailed, with Vrabel bringing modern, player-focused leadership, toughness, and a clear vision.
• New England’s offensive staff, led by Josh McDaniels, is pushing Drake Maye much as Brady was, raising expectations for the rookie and demanding high cognitive/football IQ.
  • “Josh McDaniels ... is going to be hard on you, man. ... Drake Maye wanted it and he wanted to have all those answers to the test.” – Tyler Dunne [39:55]
• The restructuring of the roster, relationship between Vrabel and GM Eliot Wolf, and the rapid instilling of Vrabel’s cultural ethos are described.
  • “He knows what kind of player he wants... If this isn't for you, we'll find a home for you, but it's not here.” – Tyler Dunne [43:18]
• The hosts agree New England could be a real AFC contender—if not outright Super Bowl candidates—this season given the infrastructure, QB play, and leadership.
  • “Buckle in because the Patriots are going to be good for a really long time.” – Tyler Dunne [41:39]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Bills Culture After “13 Seconds”:
  • “That moment kind of broke those Seahawks. ... 13 seconds broke the psychology of the Bills.” – Tyler Dunne [22:02]
• On McDermott’s Accountability:
  • “...Really no ownership, really no accountability in that moment. ... It really did linger into ‘22, ‘23, ‘24, to the point where people in all departments are saying that has been a dark cloud.” – Tyler Dunne [22:26]
• On Brian Daboll’s Impact:
  • “There’s people who think the Bills could have multiple Super Bowls right now if Daboll and Allen stayed together.” – Tyler Dunne [15:08]
• On Matt LaFleur’s Perceived Limitations:
  • “I know he's smart. ... I don't know if either is a great culture creator. ... I can't with LaFleur. I see smart. I see good with quarterbacks. ... I don't see a great culture.” – Colin Cowherd [32:16]
• On Vrabel’s New England Fit:
  • “He will pull you aside ... and say, look, no hard feelings. If this isn’t for you, we’ll find a home for you, but it’s not here.” – Tyler Dunne [43:18]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [04:30] Bills press conference analysis, Keon Coleman criticism
• [07:18] McDermott’s playoff record and “championship window” failures
• [12:39] Defense of Brandon Beane’s roster construction
• [13:54] Brian Daboll as a head coaching candidate and his bond with Josh Allen
• [18:43] Media dynamics and McDermott’s evolving public persona
• [22:25] Psychological fallout from “13 seconds” loss to Chiefs
• [27:55] Green Bay Packers’ issues with culture, LaFleur’s strengths and shortcomings
• [36:50] Patriots’ turnaround: Vrabel, Maye, McDaniels, cultural reboot
• [43:11] Can the Patriots win it all this year?

Conclusion

This episode offers an unfiltered, inside look at the unraveling of the Sean McDermott era in Buffalo, the challenges of evaluating front office and coaching performance, and the emotional toll of repeated near-misses. The discussion expands to broader trends and personnel across the NFL, especially in Green Bay and New England, with Tyler Dunne providing rich behind-the-scenes reporting and Cowherd framing the narratives for the national audience.

For NFL fans and followers of coaching intrigue, this is an episode packed with insight, candor, and real context for the offseason’s biggest storylines.