Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has high praise for Buffalo Bills star signal caller Josh Allen.
During a recent appearance on fellow former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer's podcast, Favre was asked which active quarterback he sees himself in the most.
The Hall of Famer said that last season, which marked Allen's ascent to second-team All-Pro and bona fide MVP candidate, changed his thinking on who was the rightful heir to his place as one of the league's most athletic and multifaceted threats under center.
“I would say Josh Allen probably,” Favre told Dilfer. “A year ago at this time if we were having this conversation, I would have said Mahomes or Baker Mayfield. Now, it’s Josh Allen. The more I’ve gotten a chance to watch him, he’s trying to run over people. He’s just basically doing whatever. He’s raw, but he’s a winner."
Allen did indeed prove himself a winner in 2020, guiding Buffalo to a 13-3 record and its first AFC East crown since 1995, and ending the New England Patriots' 11-year run atop the division in the process.
He did it with both his arm and legs, establishing himself as a dangerous dual-threat quarterback in the vain of Favre. But unlike some fleet-footed quarterbacks who carry the ball out of the backfield, the hulking 6-foot-5, 240-pound Allen is not afraid to take on contact from hard-charging defenders.
"I’m sure [Brian] Daboll, his offensive coordinator — who was my quarterback coach for the Jets — is like, ‘Quit being Favre!’ If you want to play 20 years you need to stop trying to run over people. In Year 3, 4, 5, 6, it’s kind of hard to.”
Dilfer, who in addition to his podcasting gig, is coaching high school football in Tennessee, spelled out the similarities between the star quarterbacks, as well as what he sees as "the only" difference.
“They’re the same human," Dilfer said. "They’re wired the same way. They have the same reckless abandonment for their body. They throw the ball these weird ways, yet it’s just ripping fire. They’re winners. Put the ball in their hand at the end of the game, and it’s not going to be the way the two-minute drill was set up, but they’re going to punch it in the end zone. It is crazy to watch Josh play for me as a spectator, because I’m like 'I’m watching No. 4 play, he’s just a couple inches taller.' That’s the only difference. He’s just two inches taller, and that’s the only difference. And Daboll’s got to be going crazy but at the same time giggling inside.”
Favre agreed with Dilfer's comparison, and graciously noted where he thinks Allen is actually better than him at this stage of his career.
“If there’s any difference, he’s a little more polished," Favre said. "A little more - Josh is kind of like, of all the quarterbacks out there, he’s kind of like the closest to old school. He’s just winning games. Whatever that calls for, that’s what he’s able to do, so definitely he and I are closest in comparison.”
The Bills begin their defense of their division crown on Sept. 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
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