Becoming a father has a certain way of shifting focus, coding what is important and what is unnecessary to help guide a person through life. For Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, whose wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld, gave birth to a daughter earlier this month, the goals remain the same, but the motivation has changed.
“That will to win will never change. Why I want to do it has,” Allen said Monday, via the Associated Press. “So why I want to do it is to show my family, to show my daughter how hard you have to work to achieve something so great. And as long as I play this game, that’s going to be my mindset.”
Allen is set to turn 30 in a month, but doesn’t believe he’s anywhere close to slowing down.
“I’m not too sure about the science of a male’s athletic peak, but I think it’s a little over 30. And then hopefully dad’s strength kicks in, right?” he said.
It’s been a year of change for Allen, who, in addition to becoming a father, saw Sean McDermott fired this offseason, replaced by offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The former MVP said he is healthy after having surgery this offseason to remove a broken bone in his right foot.
Allen is attending free workouts to help Brady spread his message.
“Just wanted to make sure my presence is felt here and try to spread the word about what Joe has in store for us,” he said. “New message. New vibe. New guys. And it’s been a good change. Still respecting the past and what’s been here for the last 10 years, not shying away from it. But also having your own spin on it.”
The Bills are hoping this turnaround will get them past their playoff blunder and back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993 — three years before Allen was born.