Josh Allen leapfrogs Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson for “America’s Quarterback” title in analyst’s bold NFL take

Josh Allen has 30,102 passing yards, an NFL MVP award, and eight seasons of remarkable consistency with the Buffalo Bills. The one thing he doesn't have is a Super Bowl ring. As the 2026 season kicks off, NFL analyst Craig Mish made a striking claim ahead of the Bills' September 13 opener against the Houston Texans -- that Allen has surpassed Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson to become the quarterback most of America genuinely wants to see win it all.Is Josh Allen really "America's Quarterback" over Mahomes and Lamar Jackson?The label sounds bold, maybe even premature. But Mish's reasoning is less about stats and more about public sentiment. He posted a video under the title "Has Josh Allen somehow become America's quarterback?" and what followed was a pretty honest breakdown of where fan affection actually sits across the league."I think this may be one of the rare occasions where fans are rooting for the Bills to win the Super Bowl this season," Mish said. "They're rooting for Josh Allen. I think he's a good guy. I think they would like to see Buffalo win. When Mahomes was winning Super Bowls, I think everyone recognized he's great, but I don't think people were rooting for the Chiefs."That distinction matters. There's a difference between admiring a champion and actually pulling for one. Mahomes has three Super Bowl rings, seven playoff appearances, and a resume that will one day sit at the top of every all-time list. But three titles have a way of making it hard for neutral fans to feel invested. Nobody loses sleep hoping the favourite wins again.Allen is different. He doesn't carry the weight of inevitability. He carries the weight of nearly, always close but not quite, which is a far more human story. Mish put it plainly: "I think everyone's just kind of like, he deserves it. Similar to Lamar Jackson, but not as much. But I think people want to see Josh Allen win."Why does Josh Allen have so much fan support despite never reaching the Super Bowl?Part of it is the Bills themselves. Buffalo is a city that has lived with heartbreak long enough that when things go wrong for them, people outside the fanbase feel it too. The Bills have reached four consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s and lost all four. They haven't been back since. Allen arrived in 2018 and turned a struggling franchise into one of the AFC's most reliable teams. In seven full seasons, they have never lost more than six regular season games. And yet the Super Bowl remains out of reach.His 2024 MVP season was arguably his cleanest. Twenty-eight passing touchdowns, twelve rushing scores, and a career-low six interceptions. He also caught a touchdown pass. His 41 total touchdowns made it five straight seasons with at least 40. He threw fewer turnovers, took fewer sacks, and looked more in command than at any point in his career. The numbers told one story. The playoff exit told another.Allen turned 30 in May. The Bills fired longtime head coach Sean McDermott after a Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos, promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, and added wide receiver DJ Moore in a trade. The rebuild around Allen is real. So is the urgency.Does Josh Allen have what it takes to finally win a Super Bowl in 2026?The roster around him is arguably better constructed than it has ever been. Moore gives the offense a genuine No. 1 receiver. Joe Brady, who has worked directly with Allen for three years, now has full control of the program. The defense has been upgraded with new personnel. On paper, the window is open.What separates 2026 from previous years is not just talent. It is the absence of excuses. A new coach, a revamped defense, a stronger supporting cast, and a quarterback who has already proven he can carry a team -- if Buffalo falls short again, the conversation around Allen will inevitably shift. Mish's "America's Quarterback" tag is both a compliment and a quiet warning. The public roots for underdogs right up until they run out of chances.Allen knows this. He has spoken openly about not being satisfied with how Buffalo's playoff runs have ended. That self-awareness, combined with everything built around him in 2026, makes the Bills a genuinely compelling Super Bowl story. Whether the ending matches the sentiment is what September through February will decide.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.