Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has had quite a year — an MVP trophy, a wedding ring, and now a jersey retirement ceremony.
The University of Wyoming shared a video with Allen announcing that the school will be honoring him at a game later this season, giving a historic nod to his college career.
Josh Allen Returns to Wyoming
In the video posted on Thursday, Allen said he would be returning to Wyoming late in the college football season to see his jersey retired by the university.
What’s up, Cowboys fans. Josh Allen here,” Allen said in a video shared on X. “I’m excited to announce that I will be returning to University of Wyoming Nov. 22 against University of Nevada. Excited to be back in Laramie. Go Pokes.”
Allen gained national attention during his two seasons at Wyoming, becoming one of the top collegiate prospects during his senior season in 2017. He was drafted by the Bills with the No. 8 overall pick in 2018.
“It is very exciting and a wonderful day for the State of Wyoming,” University of Wyoming athletic director Tom Burman said in a statement, via ESPN. “It is going to be a big day in the history of Wyoming Football. Josh is the most high-profile ambassador the University of Wyoming has ever had.”
Josh Allen’s Unlikely Path to NFL Stardom
Allen’s path to the NFL has become a thing of legend. He was a little-regarded quarterback coming out of high school and played his first two seasons at Reedley College, a junior college in California.
The no-star recruit sent emails to more than 1,000 college coaches after leaving Reedley College, asking them to review his game tape. Wyoming was the only college to offer him a scholarship, with head coach Craig Bohl saying he could see the potential in Allen.
“Your instincts as a head coach can sometimes be really helpful,” Bohl said this August during a trip to Buffalo to watch Allen at training camp. “My instincts said there was greatness to him, and it was going to take a little bit to develop, and he certainly did.”
Though Allen suffered a broken collarbone in his first year at Wyoming, he went on to start the next two seasons and finished his career with 5,066 passing yards, 767 rushing yards, and 57 total touchdowns.
Bohl said Allen put in a lot of work, reining in some of his instincts to take risks with his arms and legs. The results were mixed.
“I cannot tell you how many times I talked to him about those things,” Bohl joked. “I think they’ve worked that out of him a little bit because I cringe when I see him jump over a guy or something like that, just maybe slide, but I think that’s part of his greatness.”
Before his number is retired in November, Allen will be inducted into the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame in September as part of the 2025 class.
“Without Coach Bohl or the University of Wyoming, I wouldn’t be here without them,” Allen said of the honor. “It’s very cool to be honored by something so close and near to my heart, so yeah, it’s a pretty cool achievement.”
Bohl said the honors are well-deserved.
“He transformed the state,” Bohl said. “Wyoming had enjoyed a proud history of great football way, way back, but we had fallen on hard times. He made people in the state proud and gave them a real sense of what we could accomplish. So for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is certainly right, and I’m happy for him.”
Bills QB Josh Allen Makes Historic Announcement Before Season Starts