Wyoming retires Josh Allen's No. 17 during halftime ceremony: 'This is such an amazing honor'
Over three seasons at Wyoming, Allen totaled 5,833 yards, including 5,066 passing yards and 767 rushing yards. Allen was also responsible for 57 touchdowns (44 passing, 12 rushing and 1 receiving).
Before he returned to campus Saturday with his movie star wife, Josh Allen had not been back in Laramie, Wyo., since March 2018.
Allen has been busy during his seven years away from the University of Wyoming. The best athlete in the school's history got drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the seventh overall pick of the 2018 draft.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks to the sold-out crowd during halftime of a game between the University of Wyoming
and the University of Nevada at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyo., on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Andrew Towne Casper Star-Tribune
Allen transformed the Bills into a perennial Super Bowl contender. Twice, he has led the franchise to the AFC championship game. In January, Allen was named the NFL's most valuable player. In Western New York, he has made an immeasurable impact on and off the field. Finally, Buffalo has another superstar athlete. His face is plastered on billboards and advertisements across the country.
And, on Saturday, less than 48 hours after one of the ugliest losses in his eight-year NFL career, Allen returned to Laramie. The University of Wyoming retired his No. 17 jersey during a halftime ceremony. His wife, Hailee Steinfeld, and parents, Joel and LaVonne, accompanied Allen. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon wore a cowboy hat to greet the Cowboys legend. His college coach, Craig Bohl, also attended. The school has retired the jersey of only two other athletes: men's basketball players Fennis Dembo and Kenny Sailors.
Allen is beloved in Wyoming. He spent just three years and two full seasons with the Cowboys, but he changed their football program. Allen led Wyoming to consecutive eight-win seasons and consecutive bowl games. He totaled 5,833 yards, including 5,066 passing yards and 767 rushing yards. Allen was also responsible for 57 touchdowns (44 passing, 12 rushing and one receiving). He threw 44 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.
A tribute video was shown in War Memorial Stadium before the school revealed his name and number on the middle deck's facade. After crediting others for his success, Allen delivered nine parting words that took a shot at Wyoming's rival, Colorado State, and will not soon be forgotten in Laramie.
"First off, I just want to say thank you for everybody coming out tonight. This is such an amazing honor, a huge blessing," Allen said. "There's so many people that I can thank for this achievement. A lot of teammates here. Love you guys.
"Coach Bohl, coach (Brent Vigen), people that believed in me. The fans and the support here in Wyoming. I'm so honored and blessed to represent this university and this beautiful state. I love you guys. Thank you. God bless. Go Pokes, and it will always suck to be a CSU Ram."
The Bills are off this weekend because they lost Thursday night in Houston 23-19, a game in which Allen was sacked a career-high eight times and was hit 12 times. Buffalo will face the Steelers on Nov. 30 in Pittsburgh