Buffalo Bills Josh Allen
“He’s Writing That Story”: Mike Tomlin Shuts Down Josh Allen Doubters With Blunt Peyton Manning Comparison 1
Josh Allen is probably one of the most unfortunate players in the NFL when it comes to the Super Bowl. He has won an MVP and led Buffalo to the playoffs multiple times. But he has never reached a Super Bowl.
That missing achivement has become an easy way to judge Allen, especially after Buffalo’s recent postseason losses. But Mike Tomlin sees the situation differently and used Peyton Manning’s career to explain why Allen’s story is not finished.
Mike Tomlin tells Josh Allen doubters to keep watching
During an appearance on NBC Sports’ Chris Simms Unbuttoned, Tomlin rejected the idea that Allen’s career should be defined by his lack of a championship. He compared Allen’s situation with the path Manning followed and urged critics to wait until the full story is complete.
“My response is, ‘Keep watching.’ He’s writing that story. … I remember people used to say that about Peyton Manning a generation ago until he got it done,” said Tomlin.
Mike Tomlin on those who doubt Josh Allen because he hasn’t won a Super Bowl:
“My response is, ‘Keep watching.’ He’s writing that story. … I remember people used to say that about Peyton Manning a generation ago until he got it done.” 🎯
(🎥 @CSimmsQB Unbuttoned) pic.twitter.com/VdtLv8gUBX
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 26, 2026
The comparison matters because Manning faced the same criticism for years. He had already won two MVP awards and made several deep playoff runs before winning his first Super Bowl during the 2006 season. Indianapolis defeated Chicago in Super Bowl XLI, and Manning was named the game’s MVP.
Tomlin is not predicting that Allen’s career will end the same way. His point is that a quarterback can go years without a championship, and that gap won’t erase everything else he has accomplished. Manning’s career provides a clear example.
Josh AllenJosh Allen
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) smiles at something someone said before the Buffalo Bills wild card game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 12, 2025.
Allen has already won an MVP award of his own. He earned the honor in 2024 after producing 4,269 total yards and 41 touchdowns while committing only eight turnovers. Those numbers showed his ability to create points through the air and on the ground without making many costly mistakes.
Allen also became the first player in NFL history to record at least 40 total touchdowns in five straight seasons. That level of production gives him a strong individual record even without a Super Bowl appearance.
The criticism still has a factual basis. Buffalo has not reached a Super Bowl during Allen’s career, and the Bills have repeatedly fallen short in the AFC playoffs. Those postseason results will remain part of the discussion until Buffalo breaks through.
Buffalo Bills Josh AllenBuffalo Bills Josh Allen
Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates a touchdown in a 38-10 win over the Raiders.
That is why Tomlin’s comparison with Manning works. He is not arguing that the missing championship does not matter. He says Allen’s story should not be treated as complete while the quarterback is still playing at a high level.
Allen has continued to support that argument early this season. Through two games in 2026, he has thrown for 582 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also added 92 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground, helping Buffalo begin the season 2-0.
The championship is still missing, and that fact has not changed. However, as Tomlin explained, Allen is still writing the rest of his story.
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