New decade. New wife. New daughter. New stadium.
A lot has changed for Josh Allen.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback turned 30 this offseason, married actress Hailee Steinfeld last year and became a father for the first time when the couple welcomed daughter Harper Haize Allen.
Now comes another first.
Allen will lead the Bills onto the field Thursday night for the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium — and his first home game as a dad.
Football hasn’t changed much for Allen. Why he’s playing it has.
“That ‘want to win’ will never change. The ‘why I want to do it’ has,” Allen said during the offseason. “So why I want to do it is to show my family, to show my daughter how hard you need to work in order to accomplish something so great.”
Allen and Steinfeld have kept much of their daughter’s life private, but both have shared glimpses of becoming parents.
Here’s what to know about Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld’s first child, Harper, and what the Bills quarterback has said about becoming a father.
Does Josh Allen have a child?
Yes. Allen and Steinfeld have one child.
Their daughter is named Harper Haize Allen. She is the first child for both Allen and Steinfeld.
The couple has not publicly explained whether Harper’s name has a family connection or special meaning.
When did Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld have their baby?
Allen and Steinfeld announced the arrival of their daughter April 2.
“Our baby girl has arrived!!” Steinfeld wrote at the time. “We’re feeling incredibly grateful and blessed and savoring these early moments. Thank you so much for the love and well wishes.”
The couple did not publicly disclose Harper’s exact birth date.
Allen and Steinfeld announced the pregnancy in December 2025, about seven months after getting married.
What has Josh Allen said about becoming a father?
Allen believes fatherhood can make him a better person and quarterback.
“I do think this is going to be the best version of myself in all aspects, my professional career and my personal life,” Allen said during Bills offseason workouts.
His motivation has changed, too.
Allen said his desire to win hasn’t diminished since becoming a father. He now wants his daughter to see the work required to accomplish something difficult.
Allen also credited Steinfeld with allowing him to balance the demands of being an NFL quarterback and a new father.
“I’ve got an absolute rockstar of a wife that’s doing so many things right now and allowing me to be here right now and be with my teammates,” Allen said.
Hailee Steinfeld wrote a letter to daughter Harper
Steinfeld reflected on becoming a mother and her first months with Harper in a letter to her daughter.
“You’ve been here for only a short while now, and somehow it feels as though you’ve always been ours,” Steinfeld wrote. “There are moments … I still look at you and wonder how you’re real.”
Steinfeld wrote about the everyday parts of being a new parent, including naps, diaper changes and watching Harper grow.
“Your daddy and I look at you often and ask each other the same question: How did we get so lucky to have you?” Steinfeld wrote.
Who is Josh Allen married to?
Allen is married to actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld.
The couple married May 31, 2025, at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California.
Allen and Steinfeld were first linked in 2023 and announced their engagement in November 2024. They made their red carpet debut together at the NFL Honors in February 2025, when Allen received the NFL MVP award.
Steinfeld received an Academy Award nomination for her role in the 2010 movie “True Grit.” Her 2025 movie "Sinners" won four Academy Awards. Steinfeld also has appeared in the “Pitch Perfect” movies and Disney+ series “Hawkeye” and voices Gwen Stacy in the animated “Spider-Verse” movies.
How old are Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld?
Allen is 30 years old. Steinfeld is 29.
Allen was born May 21, 1996, in Firebaugh, California.
Steinfeld was born Dec. 11, 1996, in Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Josh Allen has a new role for Bills season: Dad. Meet daughter Harper
