Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills saw their Super Bowl hopes crash after a Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos, 33-30. Emotions ran high in the locker room, and the defeat may now lead to a quiet but major coaching change that could impact the franchise moving forward.

“One bit of news: Bills OL coach Aaron Kromer is expected to retire following yesterday’s defeat,” NFL reporter Mike Silver of The Athletic shared on Sunday night. “Has had a long and impressive coaching career.”

Even Kromer’s daughter, Brooke, confirmed the news on X: “My dad is retiring from the NFL after a lifetime of football! So grateful for the memories and the relationships that will last forever. Now the Kromer legacy lives on through my brother, and my dad gets to enjoy a well-earned “normal” life.”

The timing of the report made the loss feel even heavier for the Bills. After all, Kromer is a respected voice on the offensive staff and finished a four-year run in his second stint with the team. He previously coached the Bills’ offensive line in 2015 and 2016, and his second stint with the team began in 2022.

He guided the Buffaloes’ offensive line to the best run block win rate (75%) and fourth in pass block win rate (71%) in the NFL this season, as per ESPN.  Their running back, James Cook, also produced the league’s leading rusher this season. Under Kromer, the Bills’ offensive unit, which consisted of tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, guards Torrence and David Edwards, and center Connor McGovern, soared to new heights in the last three years.

Ever since he rejoined the franchise, their offensive linemen made it to the Pro Bowl seven times: Dion Dawkins was chosen for the Pro Bowl in all four seasons he played under Kromer. Then, Mitch Morse, Rodger Saffold, and Connor McGovern earned one Pro Bowl accomplishment each.

Now, as per reports, Bills assistant OL coach Austin Gund could be a potential replacement. But things don’t end here.

Along with Kromer’s departure, the franchise may also look to replace two of its starting offensive linemen: Center Connor McGovern and left guard David Edwards. They played under expiring contracts this year, but Buffalo, which is cap-strapped, might not be able to retain them. So, the new coach will likely have to build the line once again.

Plus, it goes without saying that the players will be devastated by his exit. For instance, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence couldn’t help but reflect on how good a coach Kromer had been.

“He made football fun. I could definitely say that he taught me the game. He made me understand it,” Torrence said.

Yet another tough end for the Buffalo Bills

Sean McDermott said the result didn’t go Buffalo’s way despite a strong effort. He praised the team’s fight, resilience, and next-man-up mentality, noting that even with injuries, the players gave everything they had until the final whistle.

He was also quite upset about a controversial referee decision that led to their loss: Bills’ wide receiver Brandin Cooks had caught Allen’s pass, but the NFL ruled it as an incompletion. While theories and explanations were circulated on the internet, McDermott believed that Cooks completed the catch in overtime.

For Josh Allen and the Bills, the loss marked a painful end to a season filled with high expectations. As Buffalo shifts its focus to the offseason, emotions remain raw, coaching changes loom, and the hunger to return stronger next season is already taking shape across the organization.

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Josh Allen blames himself after a tough loss that got the Bills’ playoff dreams shattered

Josh Allen faced heartbreak as the Buffalo Bills’ playoff run ended in disappointment. Despite a brave fightback, Allen’s costly mistakes kept the team from advancing. After the game, he admitted the defeat hit him hard, showing how much he takes responsibility for his team’s outcome.

“That’s extremely difficult. I feel like I let my teammates down tonight,” Allen said to the media in a post-game press conference.

He added that missed opportunities at the start of the game set the tone for what became a tough night. He struggled with turnovers, fumbling twice and throwing two interceptions.

“You shoot yourself in the foot like that; you don’t deserve to win football games,” he acknowledged. Even though Buffalo fought back late, the mistakes proved costly, and Allen admitted the game’s ending will stick with him for a long time.

Despite the loss, Allen praised his teammates’ resilience. Now, all they can do is reflect on the season and come back stronger.