For the Buffalo Bills and their star quarterback, Josh Allen, the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season marked another chapter of playoff frustration, culminating in significant organizational change. The early postseason exit led to the dismissal of longtime head coach Sean McDermott and the promotion of former offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the top job, signaling a new offensive-minded direction for the franchise. Alongside this shift, the Bills bolstered their coaching staff by bringing in former Buffalo safety Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator, a move celebrated by fans familiar with his hard-nosed playing style. Amidst this backdrop of transition and future roster uncertainty, one element remains the team’s unwavering constant and beacon of hope: the transcendent talent of quarterback Josh Allen, whose very presence ensures the Bills’ Super Bowl window remains firmly open.
Allen’s offseason, however, began with a note of concern for fans. He made a surprise appearance at Joe Brady’s introductory press conference on crutches, his right foot encased in a walking boot. The 29-year-old quarterback later clarified that he had undergone a minor surgical procedure on his foot, an issue he had played through late in the season. Medical staff and Allen himself assured the public that the timeline for recovery would have him fully ready for the onset of offseason team activities in the spring, turning a moment of alarm into a footnote in his preparation for the next campaign.
While his physical rehabilitation is underway, Allen is simultaneously preparing for one of life’s most profound milestones: fatherhood. In December, he and his wife, acclaimed actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, announced they were expecting their first child. Steinfeld proudly debuted her pregnancy on the red carpet at the 2026 Golden Globes, a moment that captured the couple’s joy. Allen, speaking to reporters recently, reflected on this impending change with palpable excitement and gravity. “I’m very much looking forward to that with my wife, of becoming a dad,” he said. “It’s something that I will take with great pride.” The couple has chosen to keep the exact due date private, embracing this personal journey away from the public spotlight.
As Allen focuses on recovery and family, Steinfeld has been managing a professional secret of her own, one tied to the very event her husband strives to reach: the Super Bowl. On February 2nd, State Farm debuted the first part of a two-part Super Bowl commercial starring Steinfeld alongside comedic actors Danny McBride and Keegan-Michael Key, as well as the musical group KATSEYE. The humorous spot ends on a classic cliffhanger—“To be continued…”—with the resolution scheduled to air during the Super Bowl broadcast on February 8th.
For Steinfeld, keeping this high-profile project under wraps for months was a unique challenge. In an interview with Parade, she revealed the difficulty of secrecy. “This is one of those things where I will oftentimes tell my friends that I’m working on this fun secret project,” she explained, noting that in Hollywood, such projects “maybe don’t come out or come out years later.” The State Farm ad, however, was different. “This is something that I was so excited to tell them that I couldn’t wait for them to find out what it was. And they are about to.”
Her decision to join the campaign was driven by the brand’s reputation for creative and culturally resonant advertising, especially during major tentpole events like the Super Bowl. “State Farm has such a strong reputation for creative and culturally relevant ads, especially when it comes to big moments like this with the Super Bowl,” Steinfeld said. She was particularly drawn to the script, which she described as “so quick and witty, but so smart.” The filming experience itself was a highlight, thanks to the improvisational chemistry between her co-stars. “When you have Danny and Keegan in a room together… Whether the camera’s rolling or not, they’re pure entertainment just all day long.”
This year’s advertisement marks Steinfeld’s second consecutive appearance in a Super Bowl commercial, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by NFL fans on social media. Many have wryly pointed out that Steinfeld now has more Super Bowl appearances (via commercials) than her husband, who has yet to play in the league’s championship game. Her debut came during Super Bowl LIX in 2025, in a poignant ad for the pharmaceutical company Novartis. That spot aimed to raise awareness and encourage proactive screening for breast cancer risk, a cause close to the actress’s heart.
Reflecting on that first experience, Steinfeld acknowledged the bittersweet context of the ad airing while Allen’s Bills were not competing, but she emphasized the significance of the platform. “It was so important to me, the idea and just the honor alone of being involved and partnering with Novartis,” she told E! News at the time. “It’s going to reach so many people — just knowing that it’s so empowering to know your body and know your risk. I’m really honored to be a part of this.” She characterized the opportunity to be part of the Super Bowl broadcast, with its immense, captive audience, as a genuine “bucket list” moment in her career.
The juxtaposition of their current professional paths is striking. Allen, the physical cornerstone of the Buffalo Bills, is in a period of mandated stillness, healing his body after another grueling season that fell short of the ultimate goal. His focus is inward—on rehabilitation, on the intimate, life-changing event of welcoming a child, and on mentally preparing to lead a reshaped team under a new head coach. The pressure on him remains immense; he is the engine that drives the franchise’s championship aspirations, and the recent coaching changes only underscore the organization’s commitment to building a winner around his unique abilities.
Conversely, Steinfeld is in a period of highly visible professional culmination. Her “secret project” is about to be revealed to one of the largest television audiences of the year, celebrating her success in a parallel yet interconnected universe of entertainment. Where Allen’s quest for the Super Bowl is defined by collective struggle, intense pressure, and physical sacrifice, Steinfeld’s participation in the event is a celebration of creative achievement and mass-market reach. Yet, both arenas require immense dedication, thick skin, and a mastery of craft.
This dynamic offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a modern sports and entertainment power couple. They navigate shared spotlight while pursuing excellence in vastly different fields, each with its own rhythms, deadlines, and definitions of success. Allen’s season is a marathon of weekly violence and strategic execution, followed by an offseason of training and recuperation. Steinfeld’s career ebbs and flows with film shoots, recording sessions, and promotional cycles, with moments like a Super Bowl ad representing a peak in visibility.
For Bills fans, the hope is that these paths will eventually converge on the field in Glendale, Arizona, on a future February Sunday. The dream scenario is one where Allen is not just watching his wife’s commercial from a stadium suite, but preparing in a locker room to take the field, having finally broken through the AFC barrier. Until then, the narrative continues: Allen works in the shadows of the offseason to conquer the league, while Steinfeld shines in the bright lights of its grandest spectacle, each supporting the other’s journey from their respective sidelines.
As the new league year approaches, the Bills’ fate will once again be tethered to Josh Allen’s right arm and his leadership under a new regime. Meanwhile, Hailee Steinfeld’s Super Bowl secret is out, adding another layer to their family’s unique and very public story—a story of touchdowns and red carpets, of quiet recovery and primetime reveals, all unfolding under the relentless gaze of a fanbase dreaming of its own long-awaited celebration.
