Josh Allen’s been busy in 2025.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback came within one game of reaching his first career Super Bowl before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game. But less than two weeks later, he won the 2024 Most Valuable Player award. Then he tied the knot with singer and actress Hailee Steinfeld on May 31.
Allen caught up with USA TODAY Sports on July 14 through his partnership with sleep-aid brand Natrol but also touched on his extension, the recent quarterback rankings from league personnel canvassed by ESPN, how he cut down on turnovers in 2024, and why his acting chops have improved.
Josh Allen’s contract extension not record breaking but ‘still a big number’
Allen and the Bills agreed to a six-year, $330 million extension that replaced the existing four years and $129.5 million still left on the books. The $250 million guaranteed is less than what Dak Prescott received from the Dallas Cowboys.
But Allen doesn’t see it as taking a discount.
“It’s kind of hard to say, but it’s still a big number,” Allen said.
Josh Allen found out about Bills’ ‘Hard Knocks’ appearance on 29th birthday: ‘A surprise’
Nobody asks him about why he signed the deal. Instead, Allen thinks of it as a way to capitalize on what he sees as a fortunate situation in Buffalo.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane approached his camp in March and wanted to do right by him, Allen said.
“They took a chance on me going back to my draft year eight years ago now,” he said. “I’m just trying to play the best football I can play.”
Now entering his eighth season, Allen said he sometimes feels like a player still on his first rookie deal and not someone who is a veteran.
“It’s happened in the blink of an eye. I feel like I’m going into year three or four right now,” Allen said.
When people ask him about certain games or plays, the details are starting to become jumbled.
“I’ll have to go back and watch for film of that certain game to understand what they’re talking about,” he said.
Josh Allen explains reasons for less turnovers in 2024
In 2023, Allen threw a career-worst 18 interceptions. That gave him 49 total in the span of three regular seasons (50 starts).
Last season, however, Allen threw six interceptions – a 66% decrease. A lot of factors played into that drop, Allen said.
The offensive line took its game to another level, in Allen’s mind. Running back James Cook turned in another Pro-Bowl season and scored 16 rushing touchdowns. Allen also credited offensive coordinator Joe Brady for putting in concepts and plays that provide answers for what defenses present.
Looking inward, Allen said, it was about making better decisions with the football and letting the game come to him.
There is also a luck factor at play. Sometimes quarterbacks throw a ball off a receiver’s hands and it’s picked off. Other times, they errantly fire one right at a defender who drops it.
“They all kind of even themselves out,” Allen said.
Taking care of the football is a priority entering training camp, Allen said, so he can hit the ground running like in 2024.
“Making sure, again, that I’m just being smart with the football, understanding the concepts, trusting my eyes, trusting my arm and trusting my feet if it’s not there,” Allen said.
Josh Allen reacts to ESPN’s QB ratings
Allen hadn’t seen the rankings but didn’t appear surprised.
“Any time you play one of those three guys, you know you have to perform your best to keep up with them,” Allen said. “We have a lot of quarterback talent in the league, especially in the AFC right now. Just a lot of guys that, again, they show up each and every game. And in order to beat them you got to play better than them, which is very hard to do.”
Josh Allen hopes sleep, Natrol partnership take game to next level
Last season, Allen became serious about changing his diet and felt better as a result. Sleep is the next aspect of his health he wants to conquer. That is one aspect of his health Allen feels he’s neglected throughout the first part of his career and is why he partnered with Natrol.
“I think going into training camp, getting restorative sleep is the number one thing,” Allen said.
During camp, Allen likes to settle down earlier than usual. The Bills have a 10:30 p.m. curfew, but he might duck into his room 30 minutes earlier, turn the lights off and the air conditioning up. Waking up early and working out so he doesn’t have to do it after practice makes camp that much easier, he said.
“But I’m very excited to see how Natrol Sleep and Restore is going to unlock the next thing in my game.”
Allen used the product while flying back from Europe in March. Typically, he has a hard time sleeping on planes. But on this occasion he passed out for 10 hours – most of the flight.
“I just thought that was the coolest thing,” Allen said.
For Natrol, Allen shot a 30-second commercial that portrays how sleep makes him the best version of himself in all parts of his life.
“I truly believe in the product,” Allen said. “I think it’ll help me be a better football player, a better leader and a better, overall, morning person and just waking up refreshed and ready to go and bringing that energy.
“Because as a quarterback people look at you and look to you. Sometimes I have to provide the energy throughout the day and that starts with me. So making sure that I’m doing everything necessary to be the best leader and the best teammate I can be. And sleep can help me do that.”
At the start of his career, Allen was hesitant about the concept of acting and promoting products. But as he does more of the like and his star continues to rise, it’s becoming more second nature. Being in front of the camera helps him tap into his competitive juices, too.
“I do appreciate the challenge,” Allen said. “That was a pretty challenging shoot, I think. There (were) rigs, there were dollies, there was stuff getting pulled off me, I was ripping clothes off and jumping over people. I do enjoy that more than sitting there and holding the product.”
Bills’ new stadium, Bills Hallmark movie … and more movies
The 2025 season will be the Bills’ final in their current Highmark Stadium. The new Highmark Stadium will open in 2026 across the street.
Allen toured the new digs a month ago. The construction happened quickly and he saw that throughout last year.
“To go out for practice and be like ‘Holy cow, they already put this steel beam up,’” Allen said. “Hopefully we can end this season at Highmark with a bang and open the new one the right way.”
Some of Allen’s teammates will be going from Highmark to Hallmark this holiday season, with the Bills being featured in “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.” Head coach Sean McDermott, left tackle Dion Dawkins and safety Damar Hamlin will appear. Allen said a few guys were a bit nervous.
Movies are an important part of Allen’s daily life.
“If I have one superpower, it’s remembering movies and movie quotes,” he said. “The more I watch, the more I retain. It’s like my own language. I’m constantly thinking through them. It’s a cool little skill that I have.
“’The Other Guys’” is probably the top-quoted film. ‘Stepbrothers’ is a classic. And ‘Holes’ has been receiving some shine lately.’
