Josh Allen returned to Laramie on November 22, 2025, as the University of Wyoming officially retired his No. 17 jersey at War Memorial Stadium. The ceremony, held at halftime of Wyoming’s home game against Nevada, marked a historic milestone as the first jersey retirement in the school’s football history. A packed stadium watched as a tribute video played, a permanent No. 17 display was unveiled on the west side of the venue, and Allen was welcomed back to midfield to thunderous applause.
Yet the moment that truly stole the spotlight happened in the stands. Hailee Steinfeld attended the ceremony alongside Allen, dressed in Wyoming brown and gold. A brief video captured the couple leaning in and tapping the brims of their matching caps together, a playful and intimate gesture. The clip quickly spread across social media during the game, becoming the most widely shared and talked-about footage from the celebration.
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld’s Viral Clip and The Halftime Ceremony
Josh Allen walked onto the field alongside his parents and former head coach Craig Bohl, receiving a warm ovation from the home crowd. As he made his way to midfield, the Wyoming marching band formed the number “17” on the turf while the stadium scoreboard played a montage celebrating the standout moments of his college career.
When Allen arrived at the center of the field, the university unveiled a permanent display featuring his name and number, cementing his legacy in program history. Bleacher Report later shared a clip of Allen and Hailee Steinfeld from the ceremony, posting it with the caption: “Josh Allen and his wife, Hailee Steinfeld, share a moment at Josh’s Wyoming jersey retirement❤️”
Josh Allen and his wife, Hailee Steinfeld, share a moment at Josh's Wyoming jersey retirement ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bo6RC3DKLu
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 22, 2025
The crowd remained standing throughout Allen’s introduction, greeting him with a sustained ovation. When the applause finally settled, Allen addressed the stadium with heartfelt remarks. He began by saying, “First off, I just want to say thank you for everybody coming out tonight. This is such an amazing honor, a huge blessing.”
He then acknowledged the former players who returned for the occasion, adding, “There’s so many people that I can thank for this achievement. A lot of teammates here. Love you guys.”
Allen also credited the coaches and staff who shaped his development at Wyoming, continuing, “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.”
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Wyoming later confirmed that Allen is the only football player in school history to have his jersey retired. Previously, the university had bestowed the honor only on two men’s basketball legends: Fennis Dembo and Kenny Sailors.
The ceremony was scheduled during the Wyoming versus Nevada game to ensure it took place before a large home audience. Although Wyoming lost 13–7, the outcome did nothing to diminish the scale or significance of the tribute.
Hailee Steinfeld Says She Wasn’t Much of An NFL Fan Until She Started Dating Josh Allen
Hailee Steinfeld revealed earlier this month in an interview with Elle that her interest in football was limited before she began dating Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. While the sport was always present in her household growing up, she explained that she never paid close attention to it.
As she told Elle, “Nowhere near as intensely or as avidly as I do now. But football has always been on in the house. Sundays are always a big day, but Sundays are even bigger now. Sundays and some Mondays and Thursdays.”
Steinfeld also opened up about her personal life in a recent Bustle feature, speaking candidly about family planning and the major life changes that followed her marriage to Allen in May 2025. She shared that she is excited about the idea of having “kids” and described the deep emotional grounding she has found in her relationship.
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She told the outlet, “That inner peace that you have, that rock, that solid, consistent part of your life is indescribable. I literally thank God every day that I found my person, and it’s the greatest thing in the world. Life makes sense. Everything makes sense. I feel like I am stepping into the version that I’ve always dreamed of being, having so much to do with being with him.”
The Bills have seven wins on the season so far. They started the year with four straight victories before dropping two in a row. Buffalo then responded with back-to-back wins, followed by a Week 10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The team bounced back again in Week 11 with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their next matchup comes in Week 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
