Bills' Culture Working, But Catches Matter Too

Bills' Culture Working, But Catches Matter Too originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Just ask Bills Mafia and Dawson Knox, sometimes catches are more important than culture.

The veteran tight end's acrobatic drop of quarterback Josh Allen's heroic fourth-down pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the final minute of the AFC Championship Game still resonates with fans as the Bills prepare to open 2025 training camp in three weeks.

Yahoo Sports, however, just published a piece praising the Bills' "culture" as a reason for the team finally getting over the hump and into the Super Bowl.

The story points to a statement by head coach Sean McDermott in 2018 when his team was 1-3 and Allen—then a rookie—was struggling.

“The culture to me trumps strategy," McDermott said. "That’s what I believe in whole heartedly. It doesn’t mean we have choir boys, it means we have guys that love football and do things the right way for the most part. I understand that. We’re trying to build something that does take time, but overall, guys have to be committed to the process."

Yahoo expands in its story: "'Culture trumps strategy' was a hotly debated topic and the sound bite du jour after that press conference, but it’s McDermott’s clear attempt to define culture that likely carried more weight. He rejected the idea that morality is the fundamental building block of culture by overtly saying the team wasn’t looking for “choir boys,” but specifically called out players who “love football” and 'do things the right way'.”

McDermott is proud of the Bills' culture. He can only hope this season it produces one more key catch.

Related: Bills' Josh Allen Lacks 1 Key Thing To Complete NFL Resume

Related: What Does Bills' James Cook Need To Justify New Contract?

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.