As the Buffalo Bills gear up for their first home game of the season, quarterback Josh Allen has a little extra motivation tucked in his pocket—literally.
Allen, who is set to lead the Bills into their new stadium for the first time on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions, revealed in a recent interview with GQ that he keeps a special polaroid photo of his wife, Hailee Steinfeld, and their five-month-old daughter on him at all times.
“They’re the best. So cute,” Allen said, clearly still smitten with his growing family.
The couple welcomed their first child earlier this year, and Allen has been open about the joys and challenges of fatherhood. In a separate appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio, he shared a glimpse into their nightly routine—one that involves a strict screen-time policy for their little one.
“We’re trying to limit the screens ‘cause if there’s a screen, she’s over there looking,” Allen explained. “When we know that [her] eyes [are] closed and almost out, me and my wife play the New York Times crossword every night.”
He added, “That’s our little routine that we love doing,” before revealing his first guess for the game Wordle: “It’s harps, H-A-R-P-S.”
It’s a sweet, down-to-earth glimpse into the life of an NFL MVP who’s balancing football stardom with family life. And while the screen-time rule might be bent on game nights, the polaroid stays close.
Thursday’s matchup is a big one for Buffalo. After a convincing Week 1 road win over the Houston Texans, the Bills are looking to make a statement in their new home. The team has Super Bowl aspirations this season, and a victory over Detroit would send a clear message to the rest of the AFC—and the league.
According to recent betting models, the Bills are still among the favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, though the 49ers have surged ahead in some Super Bowl odds after Week 1. Allen and company will look to reclaim the top spot with a dominant performance under the lights.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video, and you can bet Allen will have his family—and that polaroid—right there with him.
