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Josh Allen Gets Controversial Label From Former Coach After Bills Star Tops QB Ranking

Originally posted on EssentiallySports | By Namish Monga | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 12:18 PM ET

Not long ago, Josh Allen was just another face at Jordan Palmer’s weekly Wine Night in Orange County, a casual tape breakdown session with QBs like Darnold and Burrow. It was here that Allen’s rise began. So when Palmer recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show, praise was expected, but the surprising label he gave Allen wasn’t.

The thing is, Palmer isn’t easily impressed anymore. “I’m not… blown away by plays that he makes anymore,” he admitted, explaining that it’s not a knock, he is simply been watching Allen’s brand of magic since his Wyoming days. “He juked two dudes the other day… and I mean, I reposted it, but I’m not sitting here going, ‘Wow.’ Cuz I’ve seen it a million times.”

What grabs Palmer’s attention now is something quieter, something that doesn’t make the highlight reel. “I’m really impressed… with his just pursuit at getting better,” he said. While he knows it sounds cliche, he emphasized, “not everybody is willing to honestly look at what they’re not very good at, and then just spend whatever amount of time, effort, energy, and resources it takes to get better at it.”

And the result of all that quiet work? “Ironically,” Palmer revealed, “I think he has become more of a game manager.”

It’s a loaded term, often associated with quarterbacks who play it safe, avoid mistakes, and lean on a strong defense or run game. But Palmer sees it differently.

He broke down the evolution of a quarterback: in high school, it’s all about the highlight tape. In college, it is the “Heisman moment.” For years, QBs are rewarded for chaos and heroics. “But in my unique experience,” Palmer said, “you’ve got to be able to put the ball in play, every available opportunity… resist the temptation to make a play when it’s not there.”

He considers Tom Brady the greatest game manager of all time, and also the GOAT. Allen, with 202 career passing touchdowns and 68 rushing scores, hasn’t lost his ability to juke defenders or launch bombs on the run. He has simply added the discipline to know when not to.

Josh Allen’s quiet mastery at the top

While Allen is calmly steering the Bills to a 4-0 record and sits as the comfortable +110 MVP favorite, other quarterbacks are living in a different reality. Take Dak Prescott. After the departure of Micah Parsons, many predicted the Cowboys had virtually no chance this season. Yet with a 1-2-1 record, Dallas fans still have hope.

Why? Because Dak is playing out of his mind. A tough loss to the reigning champ Eagles and a 40-40 shootout tie against the Packers prove they can hang with the NFC’s best. The key reason is Prescott, who is keeping them competitive by leading the entire league with 1,119 passing yards.

He is playing with a desperate fire, trying to single-handedly drag Dallas back into the NFC East race, with winnable games against the Jets and Panthers on the horizon. His narrative is one of gritty survival.

Allen’s game is defined by controlled excellence. He is winning so efficiently that even a 113.6 QB rating against New Orleans felt like just another routine performance.

We are used to Josh Allen’s superhero moments- the deep throws on the run, the leaps over defenders. So maybe Palmer’s label fits. It was during those early Wine Nights that Allen said, “we are super honest about what we talk about.” That same honest approach to growth, greatness, and winning continues to shape his journey.

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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