Josh Allen has one big goal in mind. He wants to win the Super Bowl. With Patrick Mahomes no longer in the AFC race, the spotlight is firmly on him.
This season has not been easy for the Buffalo Bills. The win loss record does not show how tough some games really were. Many wins came after real struggle. Still, Allen heads into the playoffs as the biggest name in the AFC. Whether that turns into playoff success is something only January will answer.
But football is not the only thing that matters to Allen. Some things are personal. One of them can be seen right on his hat.
For every home game this season, Allen wears a special cap. The design on it is made by a child from Oishei Children’s Hospital. Each drawing is unique. Each one tells a small story.
The Bills logo on the hat looks childish too. That part has its own meaning. Allen himself drew that logo back in 2018, just months after being drafted. The drawing was rough and imperfect. Fans loved it. It went viral. Over time, it became special. Now the children at the hospital start with that logo and build their own art around it.
Allen says he looks forward to this every week. Every Saturday, a box waits in his locker. Inside is a new hat. He opens it and sees what a child has created just for him. It is one of his favorite moments of the week.
In Week 17, the hat was designed by a 5 year old patient named Nico. After the game, the hat will not just be stored away. It will be auctioned. The money will go directly to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
That hospital holds deep meaning for Allen and his family. A wing there is named after his grandmother, Patricia Allen.
In 2020, Patricia Allen passed away suddenly. Not long after, Bills fans began donating money to the hospital in her honor. Most gave ₹17 or $17 because of Allen’s jersey number. The response was overwhelming.
Those donations led to something bigger. Allen and his family helped create the Patricia Allen Fund. The fund supports critical care teams at the hospital. It also helped establish the Patricia Allen Pediatric Recovery Wing.
Even during heartbreak, Allen kept going. Just days after losing his grandmother, he played one of the best games of his career. He threw for 415 yards. He was involved in 4 touchdowns. The Bills won 44 to 34. It was an emotional night.
Allen still visits the hospital often. He spends time with patients. He listens. He shows up.
Oishei Children’s Hospital opened in Buffalo in 2017. It cares for children, young adults, and expectant mothers. It is named after John R. Oishei, a well known Buffalo philanthropist. The hospital gained national attention in 2020 because of the wave of donations from Bills fans.
So when Allen steps onto the field wearing that hat, it means something. It is not about style. It is about connection. It is about family. It is about remembering where love still lives, even in the middle of pressure, fame, and playoff dreams.
