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Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen receives unprecedented in-person honor from alma mater

Allen was present as the University of Wyoming football team retired his jersey at halftime of a Saturday afternoon matchup with Nevada.
Alex Brasky|
Nov 5, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen (17) scores a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies during the second quarter at War Memorial Stadium.
Nov 5, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen (17) scores a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies during the second quarter at War Memorial Stadium. | Troy Babbitt-Imagn Images

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A special honor for Josh Allen.

The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback made the trip to the University of Wyoming during his team’s mini-bye week and was on-site as his alma mater retired his number, making Allen the first player in program history to receive such a tribute.

RELATED: Wyoming bestows rare honor upon Bills' QB Josh Allen

"I’m so honored and blessed to represent this university in this beautiful state,” said Allen, per the Oil City News. “I love you guys. Thank you, God bless, go Pokes.”

Family surrounded the former Cowboys' QB during the retirement ceremony, which came at halftime of the Cowboys’ matchup with Nevada. His support group included his wife, Hailee Steinfeld, and his parents, Joel and LaVonne.

Josh Allen
Nov 4, 2017; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen (17) calls a play against the Colorado State Rams during the fourth quarter at War Memorial Stadium. | Troy Babbitt-Imagn Images

All-time great

During his time at Wyoming, Allen recorded 5,066 yards and 44 touchdown passes, which rank eighth and third all-time, respectively in the program’s history. Before the Bills selected him with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, in his final season with the Cowboys, Allen finished with 3,203 yards and 28 touchdowns, while rushing for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in his return from a season-ending collarbone injury he sustained the year prior.

”He transformed the state,” said Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl during a visit to Buffalo this past offseason.

“Wyoming had enjoyed a proud history of great football way, way back, but we had fallen on hard times,” Bohl added."He made people in the state proud, and gave 'em a real sense of what we can accomplish.”

MORE: Josh Allen's alma mater bestows high honor upon its most famous alumnus

Another honor

The honor was the second Allen has received from his alma mater this season, as he was previously inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 on Sept. 5.

“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.”

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Alex Brasky
ALEX BRASKY

Alex Brasky is editor of Bills Digest and host of the Buffalo Pregame podcast. He has been on the Bills beat the past six seasons and now joins Sports Illustrated hoping to expand his coverage of Buffalo’s favorite football team.

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