Josh Allen is an American footballer who plays quarterback for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. Allen also played football in college. After seeing his incredible performances in college football, the NFL’s Bills team chose him to play for them. The Bills picked him in the 2018 NFL Draft.
He gains lots of appreciation and praise in his college and NFL career. He is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Josh Allen is known for his strong throwing arm and ability to move quickly. He’s a rising star in the NFL and a big reason why the Bills are a top team. He’s always a threat to score when he’s playing.
Let’s take a look at Josh Allen’s amazing life story.
Josh Allen Quick Facts
| Full Name | Joshua Patrick Allen |
| Date of Birth | May 21, 1996 |
| Age | 27 years |
| Birthplace | Firebaugh, California, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m) / 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 237 lbs (108 kgs) |
| College | University of Wyoming |
| NFL Draft | 2018 – Round 1, Pick 7 (BUF) |
| Debut | September 9, 2018 |
| Nickname | Mr. January / Josh / Captain Checkdown |
| No. | 17 – Buffalo Bills |
| Position | Quarterback |
| High School | Firebaugh (CA) |
Josh Allen Early Life
Josh Allen was born on May 21, 1996, and grew up on a cotton farm in Firebaugh, California. He attended Firebaugh High School, graduating in 2014. Despite being a Fresno State football fan, he didn’t receive many scholarship offers due to his size and his high school team’s limited involvement in specialized camps.
He played multiple sports, excelled in basketball and baseball, and worked on the family farm and his mother’s restaurant. His family emphasized making the most of where he was planted. He was part of the National FFA Organization and received awards for his farming achievements.
Josh Allen College Journey
During his college journey, Josh Allen attended Reedley College and the University of Wyoming, where he played football and showcased his exceptional skills and talent.
Allen’s football talents at Reedley College shone as he led the offence to impressive statistics, ranking high among California junior college teams. Despite his achievements, he faced limited interest from larger colleges. In his freshman season at Reedley, he caught the attention of Wyoming’s coaching staff, who saw potential in his skill. Allen eventually chose Wyoming over other options and enrolled in 2015.
At the University of Wyoming, Allen encountered both challenges and successes. In his first year, he faced a setback due to a broken collarbone, but his injury granted him a medical redshirt. He returned in 2016 as the starting quarterback, throwing for over 3,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. 2017 despite contemplating entering the NFL Draft, he opted to remain at Wyoming.
Josh Allen College Career Stats
| Reedley College (2014) | University of Wyoming | |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played | 10 | Total: 27 |
| Passing Yards | 2,055 | Passing: 5,066 |
| Touchdowns (Pass) | 26 | Touchdowns (Pass): 44 |
| Interceptions | 5 | Interceptions: 21 |
| Rushing Yards | 660 | Rushing: 767 |
| Touchdowns (Rush) | 10 | Touchdowns (Rush): 12 |
Josh Allen Draft Pick
In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills made a significant move by selecting Josh Allen as their first-round draft pick. He was the seventh overall pick, following other notable quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen.
Despite being considered a raw prospect when he finished college, the Bills saw his potential and believed in his abilities. The Bills even traded up from the 12th overall pick with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to secure Allen as their choice.
Following the draft, on July 25, Allen signed a contract worth $21 million over four years, which was fully guaranteed. This began his professional journey in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills.
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Josh Allen’s NFL Career
- 2018 Season: Josh Allen began his NFL journey with the Buffalo Bills in 2018. He competed with other quarterbacks to become the starter but began as the backup. In his first regular season game against the Baltimore Ravens, he showed promise despite a tough loss. He then started against the Los Angeles Chargers and threw his first NFL touchdown. He won against the Minnesota Vikings and a viral play where he jumped over a defender. An elbow injury briefly sidelined him, but he returned strong, setting records and earning recognition.
- 2019 Season: In 2019, Josh Allen continued as the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. He led the team to comeback wins and had some tough games too. Despite facing challenges, he improved his passing skills and led the Bills to the playoffs for the first time.
- 2020 Season: Josh Allen’s 2020 season was marked by significant improvement. He started strong with high passing yards and touchdowns, showing he was becoming a key player. He even won the AFC Offensive Player of the Month award. He led the Bills to multiple victories and broke records, passing for over 4,500 yards and having a high completion rate. His strong play earned him praise, and he helped the Bills secure the AFC East division title.
- 2021 Season: He signed a big contract extension and started the season with impressive wins. He broke more records and had games with both passing and rushing touchdowns. Despite some challenges and a tough loss to the Titans, he led the Bills to another playoff berth and was impressed with his strong play and leadership.
- 2022 Season: Josh Allen’s 2022 season saw him continue his successful run as the Buffalo Bills quarterback. He started with impressive wins, including a memorable game against the Miami Dolphins. He had both passing and rushing touchdowns, showcasing his versatility. He helped the Bills win their division and secured a spot in the Pro Bowl. Despite some ups and downs, he consistently demonstrated his skills.
- Postseason Performance: Josh Allen showcased his ability to perform under pressure in the playoffs. He led the Bills to victories and set records for his postseason performance. He had exciting games, such as a historic win against the Patriots. While he faced a heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs in a close game, he showed determination and strong skills, leaving a mark on the postseason.
- 2022-23 Postseason: Josh Allen continued his postseason journey, leading the Bills to a Wild Card Round win against the Dolphins with impressive passing. Unfortunately, the Bills’ playoff run ended in the Divisional Round against the Bengals. Despite the loss, Allen’s impact on the team and his ability to excel during crucial moments were evident.
Josh Allen NFL Career Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Games played | 77 |
| Games started | 76 |
| Wins | 52 |
| Losses | 24 |
| Completions | 1,604 |
| Attempts | 2,566 |
| Completion percentage | 62.5% |
| Passing yards | 18,397 |
| Yards per attempt | 7.2 |
| Longest pass | 98 yards |
| Touchdowns | 138 |
| Interceptions | 60 |
| Passer rating | 92.2 |
| Rushing attempts | 546 |
| Rushing yards | 3,087 |
| Yards per attempt | 5.7 |
| Longest rush | 45 yards |
| Rushing touchdowns | 38 |
| Sacks | 151 |
| Sack yards | 935 |
| Fumbles | 52 |
| Fumbles lost | 20 |
Josh Allen Career Awards/Records
NFL Awards:
- Second-team All-Pro (2020)
- Pro Bowl (2020, 2022)
NFL Records:
- Highest passer rating in a single postseason (149.0) (2022)
Buffalo Bills Franchise Records:
- Most passing yards in a season (4,544) (2020)
- Most passing touchdowns in a season (37) (2020)
- Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season (8) (2020)
- Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season (421) (2020)
Other Records and Achievements:
- First quarterback to rush for at least 95 yards in three consecutive games (Week 12–14, 2018)
- The first quarterback with 10 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns through three weeks (Week 1–3, 2020)
- Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in their first 50 starts: 28 (tied with Cam Newton)
- The first quarterback in history with at least 100 touchdown passes and 30 rushing touchdowns in the first four seasons (2021)
- First quarterback to have 300 passing yards, 60 rushing yards, and five touchdown passes in a playoff game (2022)
- Highest passer rating in a single postseason: 149.0 (2022)
- The first quarterback in history to have at least 30 passing touchdowns, 5 rushing touchdowns, and 1 touchdown reception in a season (2020)
- First quarterback in history to score on every offensive possession in a game (Wildcard playoff game vs Patriots, January 15, 2022)
- First player in history to have three seasons with at least 25 passing touchdowns and 5 rushing touchdowns (Achieved December 1, 2022)
- First quarterback in history to have five consecutive seasons with six or more rushing touchdowns (Achieved December 11, 2022)
Bills Franchise Records:
- Multiple franchise records for passing and rushing yards by a quarterback
Accolades:
- PFWA Most Improved Player (2020)
- 2× AFC Offensive Player of the Month (2020: September, December)
- 10× AFC Offensive Player of the Week (multiple weeks in different seasons)
- Ranked in the NFL Top 100 Players list (2020: 87th, 2021: 10th, 2022: 13th)
- 2× FedEx Air Player of the Week (2022: Week 5, 18)
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Josh Allen Jersy
Josh Allen proudly wears the number 17 jersey as the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. This jersey represents him on the field and shows he’s a key player for his team. Fans recognize him by his jersey, which symbolizes his important role in the game.
Josh Allen Personel Life
Josh Allen’s Parents
Josh Allen was born to Joel Allen and Lavonne Allen in 1996. His family came from a small town and worked hard on their farmland. Josh’s parents introduced him and his siblings to sports when they were young. They all played basketball, baseball, football, and even swimming.
Josh Allen’s Siblings
Josh Allen has three siblings: Nicala, Jason, and Makenna. Nicola is the oldest Jason, a year younger than Josh. They are close and enjoy attending sports events together. Makenna is the youngest sibling. She’s a talented three-sport athlete, excelling in volleyball, basketball, and softball.
Josh Allen’s Girlfriend
Josh Allen’s girlfriend is Hailee Steinfeld. They started dating in May 2023. Hailee is an actress, singer, and songwriter. Josh and Hailee met through friends and were first seen together on a lunch date. They support each other at events and share pictures on social media.
Josh Allen Controversies
- In 2018, old tweets from Allen’s high school days containing racist language resurfaced.
- Allen struggled in his early NFL seasons, with more interceptions than touchdowns in his rookie year and benching in his second season.
- In 2020, Allen was accused of demanding special treatment from the team, leading to allegations of diva behavior.
- Despite controversies, Allen has become one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, leading the Bills to multiple playoffs and winning the NFL MVP award in 2022.
- Allen has apologized for his past mistakes and worked to learn from them.
- He has been vocal against racism and discrimination and has used his platform for positive change.
Josh Allen Philanthropy Work
Josh Allen is a generous person who helps many different charities. He has given a lot of money to the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, New York. This hospital is named after his grandmother, Patricia Allen, who died in 2020. Josh has also done events to collect money for the hospital.
He also supports FeedMore WNY, a food bank for people who need help getting enough food in Western New York. He gives them food and money and even spends time helping them there.
Josh cares about his community a lot. He has given money to the Buffalo Bills Foundation, which helps different causes in Western New York. He takes part in their events too.
He also works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This group makes wishes come true for kids who are sick. Josh has made wishes come true for a few kids.
Another charity he supports is the Wounded Warrior Project. They help veterans and their families. He has given them money and visited veterans at a hospital.
In Conclusion…
In conclusion, Josh Allen’s journey from a small town to becoming a celebrated NFL quarterback is truly inspiring. Overcoming challenges, he embraced his love for sports and excelled in football, capturing hearts with his amazing skills.
With an impressive NFL career and a strong determination to make a positive impact, Josh Allen is a role model, leaving a lasting mark both on and off the football field.
