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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is targeting a Super Bowl appearance, while Patrick Mahomes is off the AFC roster.
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While the Bills’ season hasn’t always been smooth sailing — their record doesn’t exactly reflect how much work the team puts into winning — Allen enters the postseason as the AFC’s biggest star. Whether that matters in January remains to be seen.
Win or lose, Allen has some personal causes close to his heart — and in some cases, even in his mind.
Here’s what you need to know about the child’s drawing that Allen wore on his hat during Sunday’s game against the Eagles.
More:Josh Allen’s Family Tree
Why Josh Allen wore a graphic hat in Week 17
In 2025, Allen will wear a hat before every home game with an image drawn by a patient at Oishei Children’s Hospital.
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However, the Bills logo was not drawn by a child, even though it looks like it was. The logo was actually drawn by Allen a few months after he was drafted in 2018. Allen’s poorly drawn Bills logo became such a hit among Buffalo fans, especially as he became a star, that kids at the hospital now began making a hat with the logo and designing around it.
“Every Saturday I have a box in my locker that I can open and see what these kids have designed,” Allen told ESPN in a feature in early 2025.
In Week 17, Alan wore a hat designed by Nico, a 5-year-old patient.
After the game, the hat will be auctioned off and donated to Oishei Children’s Hospital, where a wing is named in honor of Allen’s grandmother.
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More: Josh Allen ranks among 15 greatest players in Bills history
What is the Patricia Allen Fund?
In 2020, fans began donating $17 to Oishei Children’s Hospital in memory of Allen’s late grandmother, Patricia, and Allen and his family later helped establish The Patricia Allen Fund to support the hospital.
“The Patricia Allen Fund was developed with the involvement of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and benefits the critical care team at Oishei Children’s Hospital,” the fund’s website states.
The hospital established the Patricia Allen Pediatric Rehabilitation Center, and the fund continues to raise significant donations during Allen’s regular visits to patients at the facility.
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In 2020, Patricia Allen died unexpectedly, shortly before her grandson and the Bills played a crucial game for both teams against the Seattle Seahawks. Josh was still in the game, passing for 415 yards and scoring 4 touchdowns, helping the team win 44-34.
More:What you need to know about Josh Allen’s Pistachio Farm
What is Oishei Children’s Hospital?
The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital opened in Buffalo in 2017 to provide care for children, young adults and pregnant women. It is named for the John R. Oishei Foundation, which honors Buffalo-born philanthropist John R. Oishei.
The hospital gained national attention in 2020 when Bills fans donated more than $600,000, each donating $17, in memory of Allen’s late grandmother, Patricia.
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More:Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld join the list of the most powerful couples in sports
Josh Allen played
Here are some of Allen’s hand-painted hats for the 2025 season: