Bills QB Josh Allen Says Fatherhood Matters More Than Football: ‘The Most Important Thing’
One of the NFL’s most decorated quarterbacks says football takes a back seat to fatherhood in his home.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen has grown into one of the league’s elite signal callers in his eight seasons, earning four Pro Bowl selections and being named the Associated Press MVP in 2024. The Bills have won five division titles and reached the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons – but Allen says being a father matters most.
Allen and his wife, actor/singer Hailee Steinfeld, are expecting their first child.
Allen made the comments last week during a news conference, as he discussed navigating life as a new father during an offseason that will include recovering from a foot injury and learning a new offensive system under new coach Joe Brady.
“I've got siblings that have kids. I've got a lot of friends that have kids, and I don't know if you can plan too far in advance – so I'm very much looking forward to that with my wife of becoming a dad,” Allen responded. “It’s something that I will take with great pride, and we're gonna have to figure things out on the go, just like anything else.
“But this is the most important thing I’ll ever be in my life, is being a dad,” Allen added. “I love being a football player, and I love being a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, but I'm looking forward to this one.”
It’s not the first time Allen has spoken about perspective beyond football. In 2023, he said he experienced a “spiritual awakening” following the frightening on-field collapse of teammate Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest during a nationally televised game and was resuscitated with CPR.
“I said this in my press conference the other day, [there has been] just kind of a spiritual awakening for – really for me – and I know for a lot of other people that maybe didn't have the strongest belief or weren't the … strongest Christian followers,” Hamlin said in 2023 during an episode of ESPN’s Kyle Brandt’s Basement.
He added, “And again, I'll be the first to admit I haven't been the most devoted Christ-follower in my life. And I've had my different beliefs and thoughts and ideas and stuff like that. But something got a hold of me there. And it was extremely powerful that I couldn't deny.”
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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Timothy T. Ludwig/Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published February 02, 2026.
