Joshua Allen is a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Wyoming, where he led the Cowboys to a Mountain West Conference division title and two bowl games.
He was drafted 7th overall by the Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft, which made him the highest-drafted player from the University of Wyoming and the highest-drafted quarterback in Bills' history.
Like most rookie QB's, Allen started his professional career as Buffalo's backup quarterback, but he quickly won the starting position. In his second year as a starter, he led the Bills to a 10-win season and their second playoff appearance since 1999.
Allen took his game to a new level in 2020. Posting career-highs of 4,544 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns and a 107.2 passer rating, Allen gave Buffalo its first AFC East championship in 25 years and its first trip to the AFC Championship Game in 27 years.
In the eyes of many, the 2021 season is when Allen established himself as one of the two best quarterbacks in football. After totaling over 5,000 yards from scrimmage with a career-high 763 rushing yards, Allen put together a historic playoff stretch. Allen completed 77.4% of his passes for 637 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions in two games. Allen ran for 134 yards, and his 149.0 passer rating was the highest for a single postseason.
Allen and the Bills lost in the divisional playoffs during an epic shootout with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2022, Allen and Buffalo were knocked out in the divisional round again, this time by Joe Burrow and Cincinnati Bengals.
Allen received no scholarship offers from any NCAA Division I program.
Despite his impressive frame at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, he hadn't attended the elite quarterback camps and wasn't a widely known prospect. His high school team didn't participate in many 7-on-7 camps because Allen was a multi-sport athlete in high. school. He was the leading scorer on his basketball team and also pitched on the baseball team, reaching 90 mph with his fastball.
Allen finished his high school career with 5,269 passing yards and 59 touchdown passes.
In his lone season with Reedley College, Allen quarterbacked an offense that averaged 452.2 yards per game, which ranked 9th among all California junior-college teams in total offense. Allen passed for 26 touchdown passes, which tied him for No. 7 among all California junior-college quarterbacks in 2014. He also ranked 20th among California JUCO quarterbacks in passing yards as a freshman, and ranked 42nd in the state in rushing, averaging 66.0 yards per game.
After transferring to Wyoming and throwing for over 3,200 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2016, he almost declared for the 2017 NFL draft, initially telling his family, girlfriend, and a few friends that he would turn pro. Right before the draft declaration deadline, Allen changed course, and stayed at Wyoming. He threw for 1,812 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2017.
After the Bills drafted him 7th overall in the 2018 draft, Allen signed a four-year, fully guaranteed $21 million contract. Despite a strong preseason, Allen started the season as the backup to Nathan Peterman after A.J. McCarron was traded to the Oakland Raiders.
Allen entered 2019 fully entrenched as the Bills' opening day starter, and was named a team captain. Buffalo reached the wild-card round of the playoffs, and Allen took his game to the next level in 2020. Allen has made multiple Pro Bowls and turned the Bills into a perennial championship contender.
Allen’s rocket arm and ability to pick up yards on the ground might make him the most indefensible quarterback in football when he’s at the top of his game. Allen has 18,397 passing yards, 138 passing touchdowns and 60 interceptions to go along with 3,087 rushing yards and 38 scores on the ground for his young career.
Allen has taken his game to the next level in 2020.
Josh Allen has appeared in promotions for brands such as Microsoft Surface, Hyundai, and Tommy Armour golf and has endorsement deals with brands like headwear company New Era and Nike.
Allen signed a four-year, $21 million deal with the Bills after being drafted with the 7th pick in 2018.
Allen signed a six-year, $258 million contract.in the summer of 2021. It included $150 million guaranteed and is the second-largest deal in the history of the sport.
Allen is in a relationship with former Fresno State Bulldogs cheerleader and current Pilates instructor, Brittany Williams. The two grew up together in Firebaugh, California.
Allen graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in social science.
Allen is friends with New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold and Washington Football Team quarterback Kyle Allen (no relation). They train together in the offseason.
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