Reigning NFL MVP will be inducted Friday, returning for Nevada home game
One Wyoming Podcast
Ryan Thorburn Football 9/3/2025 4:18:00 PM
LARAMIE – Josh Allen's origin story still resonates from Buffalo, N.Y., to Firebaugh, Calif., and all football-loving towns in between.
And the Buffalo Bills superstar quarterback and reigning NFL most valuable player has not forgotten his Wyoming roots.
Allen, who will be inducted into the UW Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, recently reflected on being honored as an all-time Cowboy.
"The feeling that I have right now is obviously a very proud and humbling feeling," Allen said during a Zoom call from Bills training camp. "I'm very excited to be part of such a special group with a lot of special people. … You hope to play at such a high level that you leave wherever you are at in a better place. Again, I just feel so honored to be part of something so special."
Pokes fans will be able to celebrate with Allen in person on Nov. 22 when he returns to Laramie for the home finale against Nevada at War Memorial Stadium. During a halftime ceremony, his No. 17 jersey will be retired.
"To have the support that I do in Wyoming, it's really unbelievable," Allen said. "This will be my first time back to Laramie since Pro Day (in 2018), so hopefully I get to see a lot of No. 17 jerseys and some Bills jerseys in the stands. It's going to be a special night. It's always fun, sometimes you see those maps of where games are being played or who fans are rooting for and you look at Wyoming and it's (Bills') blue, not orange. It's an honor to have that support that I do."
Allen dazzled Pokes fans with his spectacular off-platform throws to targets like Tanner Gentry and Jacob Hollister.
The 2016 season – from the game-winning touchdown on a Superman dive to beat Northern Illinois in triple-overtime to stunning ranked Boise State and San Diego State teams en route to the Mountain West championship game – put Allen on the national map.
When asked what his favorite memory from his brown and gold days, Allen did not hesitate: The Cowboys' dramatic 16-13 victory over Colorado State in the 2017 Border War played inside the snow globe that was War Memorial Stadium that November night.
"I think of Colorado State, the snow game when Drew Van Maanen laid out on a little fullback wheel (route). He caught the ball, landed on his shoulder and had a double stinger but held onto the ball," Allen recalled. "Kellen Overstreet I believe scored the game winning touchdown there. That's a special moment, obviously playing for the Bronze Boot.
"Then I think about the Boise State game, the San Diego State game at home where the fans stormed the field. Personally, throwing left side to Tanner Gentry against Utah State, making a guy miss, rolling left and throwing a touchdown to him, that was a pretty fun play to be a part of."
Allen will be part of the 2025 hall of fame class which also includes Casey Bramlet, the most prolific passer in program history who also played quarterback in the NFL, and John Wendling, another Buffalo Bills draft pick.
Bramlet and Wendling, Wyoming natives who still reside in the state, both said their kids now wear No. 17 Bills jerseys.
"We watch just about every Bills game," Bramlet said. "My youngest, for Christmas, he wanted Bills tickets. So, this fall we're going to go out to Buffalo to a Bills game. It's been fun to watch Josh. He's easy to root for, easy to cheer for."
Wendling played for the Bills from 2007-09 before finishing his NFL career with the Detroit Lions (2010-13).
"Buffalo, that community, it reminded me so much of Laramie. It has more of a small town feel and a passionate fan base," Wendling said. "They remind me a lot of being in Wyoming and the type of people, hard working. I think it's so great what Josh is doing out there. It has been fun to watch him, and of course my kids are huge Bills fans and love Josh. They're more excited about Josh being inducted than me."
Members of Bills Mafia will make their annual pilgrimage to Laramie next week for the Utah game as an ode to Allen. Buffalo fans rooting for UW and Pokes fans changing their NFL allegiances to the Bills is not lost on No. 17.
During one of Buffalo's practices in August, Craig Bohl stopped by to reunite with Allen, who was asked later about going into the UW Athletics Hall of Fame.
"It's very cool to be remembered there," Allen said. "Coach Bohl and the University of Wyoming, obviously, I wouldn't be here without them. It's very cool to be honored by something so close and near to my heart. It's a pretty cool achievement."
Allen led the Cowboys to two consecutive eight-win seasons, the berth in the MW Championship game and two bowl games. He accounted for 5,833 yards of total offense (5,066 passing yards, 767 rushing yards) and was responsible for 57 touchdowns (44 passing, 12 rushing, one receiving) during his UW career.
After graduating in December 2017 with a bachelor's degree in social science, Allen was selected by the Bills with the No. 7 overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, UW's highest-ever draft pick.
"We think the world of Josh," UW athletics director Tom Burman said. "There's no better ambassador in the history of this place than Josh Allen."
Through his first seven seasons in the NFL, Allen has passed for 26,434 yards with 195 touchdowns and rushed for 4,142 yards and 65 touchdowns. Last season he became the first quarterback to ever throw 25 touchdowns, rush for 10 touchdowns and commit fewer than 10 turnovers in a season while leading Buffalo to its second AFC Championship game in the last five years.
Bohl thanked the Bills for "grooming" Allen, the once overlooked high school prospect the Cowboys finally provided an FBS opportunity, into a quarterback on the fast track to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"Sometimes, I'll sit by my fire and have a whiskey, and I'll think, 'That's the MVP of the National Football League,'" Bohl said. "That's pretty remarkable."
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
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