ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Marriage, fatherhood and an NFL MVP honor were the furthest things on when he arrived in Buffalo as a raw but promising quarterback prospect in April 2018.
鈥淓nvisioning it? I was just trying to figure out protections and how to throw the ball correctly,鈥� Allen said Wednesday with a laugh, reflecting on his rookie year as a first-round draft pick out of Wyoming. 鈥淲e鈥檝e come a long way.鈥�
He could say that again.
Over eight seasons, the NFL鈥檚 reigning MVP has been undeterred in his quest to prove his many draft-year critics wrong by developing into one of the league’s elite while transforming the Bills into perennial contenders.
In the meantime, the 29-year-old also has matured personally in a year when he followed by the couple announcing last week that .
鈥淵eah, I guess it鈥檚 like the evolution of life,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淚 consider this place my home. It鈥檚 where I鈥檝e done a lot of growing up. And it鈥檚 a place that I鈥檒l raise a family. It鈥檚 really cool.鈥�
In doing so, Allen has masterfully balanced his private life and professional career amid the many distractions that come with stardom.
Word of Steinfeld’s pregnancy shed light on what was considered a curious comment Allen made during a in mid-October. Asked what Steinfeld has taught him, Allen paused before saying: 鈥淢aybe I am more than a football player.鈥�
While some questioned whether that represented a shift in the quarterback鈥檚 focus, especially at a time the Bills went into a two-game skid, Allen told The Associated Press on Wednesday that learning of his wife鈥檚 pregnancy factored into his response.
鈥淥verjoyed, absolutely overjoyed,鈥� Allen said, confirming he learned he was going to be a father well before the interview was conducted.
, coming off a year in which she earned acclaim for her role in the movie 鈥淪inners,鈥� announced her pregnancy on Friday in a message on her weekly Substack newsletter listing her favorite moments of the year.
of the couple holding hands next to a tiny snowman. Steinfeld wore a sweater that read 鈥渕other,鈥� with Allen kneeling to kiss her baby bump.
鈥淚t just kind of came about,鈥� Allen said of the announcement.
He since has put to rest any questions about his commitment to football.
Buffalo (10-4) is in position to clinch its seventh straight playoff berth as early as this Sunday, with a game at Cleveland (3-11). The Bills have won four of five, the last two in which they鈥檝e overcome double-digit deficits.
And Allen is leading the way over that five-game stretch with 10 touchdowns passing and five rushing while .
His 37 touchdowns (25 passing, 12 rushing) are tied with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for the league lead. And Allen is one touchdown away from becoming the NFL’s first player to reach the 300-TD plateau before turning 30.
鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to do my job, just trying to find a way to get in the playoffs here,鈥� Allen said, dismissing MVP talk.
Coach Sean McDermott praised Allen鈥檚 development as a player and person.
鈥淪ome of the things he鈥檚 done are unprecedented in terms of what a quarterback has been able to accomplish,鈥� McDermott said.
鈥淎nd the human side to Josh Allen is, I also believe, what endears him in addition to his play to this community and around the world because he鈥檚 real,鈥� McDermott added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 refreshing to see just a real authentic person that also is the face of the franchise.鈥�
Guard David Edwards laughed when told he and his fellow offensive lineman will have a newborn Allen to protect.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e such great people, guys you love to be around. To see them so excited and happy, I鈥檓 just so happy for them,鈥� Edwards said.
Making it even better is Allen鈥檚 ability to stay rooted and not allowing room for distractions.
鈥淥ne of his super powers, of which there are many, is his ability to turn it on and off. It鈥檚 unlike anything I鈥檝e ever seen,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淥ne of his many great traits is being able to separate being on and off, keeping private and public life separate. There鈥檚 so many admirable things about him. That鈥檚 why he鈥檚 the man.鈥�
And expectant dad.
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