Josh Allen walked off the field at Empower Field at Mile High emotionally drained after the Buffalo Bills‘ 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, a game that ended their Super Bowl hopes in the divisional round.
Less than 24 hours later, the Bills quarterback was hit with another piece of difficult news when it emerged that longtime offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is expected to retire, according to The Athletic‘s Michael Silver.
“One bit of news: Bills OL coach Aaron Kromer is expected to retire following yesterday’s defeat,” Silver wrote. “Has had a long and impressive coaching career.”
For Allen, the timing only sharpened the sting of a season that slipped away on the smallest of margins.
He finished the loss completing 25 of 39 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns, but four turnovers, including an overtime interception that set up Denver‘s game-winning field goal, proved decisive. Fighting back tears afterward, Allen did not deflect blame.
“I feel like I let my teammates down tonight,” he told reporters. “Can’t win with five turnovers.”
Kromer‘s departure represents more than a routine coaching change.
Since joining Buffalo in 2022, the 58-year-old had become one of the most trusted voices on the staff, guiding an offensive line that ranked among the league’s best in pass protection during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Those years coincided with Allen playing some of the most efficient football of his career, including his MVP campaign.
This season was more turbulent. Allen was sacked 44 times including the playoffs, a single-season high, and absorbed constant pressure against Denver.
While injuries and roster turnover played a role, the loss of continuity up front was evident, making Kromer‘s expected retirement a meaningful inflection point for the organization.
A locker room still backing its quarterback
Despite the mistakes in Denver, Allen‘s teammates closed ranks around their leader.
Right tackle Spencer Brown emphasized the quarterback’s accountability and resilience, saying the team would not be in contention without him.
“That’s the leader he is, he’s gonna take the blame,” Brown said. “We wouldn’t have a shot in hell to win a football game without him back there.”
Former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci echoed that sentiment on NFL GameDay, praising Allen‘s willingness to shoulder responsibility rather than point to officiating or missed opportunities elsewhere.
“That’s leadership,” Mariucci said. “He admitted it. That’s why this city and this team loves this kid.”
The Bills now enter an offseason filled with familiar questions. Buffalo has reached the playoffs in six straight seasons but still has not broken through to a Super Bowl, extending a drought that dates back to 1994.
Contract decisions, cap flexibility and the need to keep pace in a loaded AFC all loom large.
There is stability at the tackle positions with Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown under contract, giving the next offensive line coach a foundation to build upon.
Still, replacing a veteran teacher like Kromer will not be simple, especially with Allen approaching his 30th birthday and firmly in the heart of his prime.
For a quarterback who measures success in championships, not statistics, the combination of playoff heartbreak and the loss of a trusted coach underscores how narrow Buffalo‘s window can feel.
The Bills remain contenders, but each offseason brings new variables that must align if Allen is finally going to lift the franchise onto the sport’s biggest stage.
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