Troy Aikman Sends Clear Message to Josh Allen Amid Super Bowl Pressure
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills continue to knock on the door of a Super Bowl appearance. Since taking over as a starter in 2018, Allen has led the Bills to seven playoff berths. They have lost in the AFC Championship Game twice, suffered four Divisional Round losses and been bounced in the wild-card round once.
Despite consistently coming up short, the expectations remain high. Under first-year head coach Joe Brady, Buffalo has the best odds of winning the AFC East (-130) and the third-best odds of winning the Super Bowl (+1000) according to DraftKings.
The Bills have used the offseason as an opportunity to build up the roster. They signed a handful of free agents, including defensive end Bradley Chubb and cornerback Dee Alford. They also traded for wide receiver D.J. Moore.
With increasing expectations, former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman, who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, shared some simple advice for Allen.
"They bring in Joe Brady, and now the expectations are that he's going to be the guy to get them over the hump and get them into the Super Bowl," Aikman said during ESPN's "Get Up." "I understand, as Josh, what he might be feeling right now going into this. My advice, if I had any for him, would be to just try to not put so much on his shoulders, just be him."
That's easier said than done, though, as Buffalo's rise has mainly been due to Allen's performance. From 2000 to 2017, the Bills made the playoffs just once. The four-time Pro Bowler's arrival is viewed as a major turning point for the franchise.
Even after winning MVP in 2024, Allen's efforts weren't enough to help the Bills get past the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Now Buffalo faces increased competition within its own division after the New England Patriots' Super Bowl appearance last season.
Entering another season yet with hopes of securing the Lombardi Trophy, Aikman's comments emphasize that the Bills' pressure to win a Super Bowl doesn't solely fall on Allen.
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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 10:32 AM.