The 2024 season was a mixed bag for Bills QB Josh Allen. He was voted as the NFL’s MVP for the first time in his career over Lamar Jackson, something that surprised even him. However, the season did end in agony for the Bills Mafia as they lost the AFC Championship game to the Chiefs. The heartbreaking 32-29 loss highlighted the work the Bills and Allen need to put in to reach the Super Bowl. Since then, GM Brandon Beane has made it clear that the close defeat would only spur Allen to achieve that Super Bowl trophy. Allen knows the weight of expectations will be more than ever after his MVP success, but for now, he is spending some downtime with his fiancée.

Allen is out there soaking up that post-MVP glow with fiancée Hailee Steinfeld in Italy. After confirming their engagement and making their first public appearance at the NFL Honors, Allen and Steinfeld are embracing the spotlight. They were spotted in Milan, prior to the famous Fashion Week as the Bills’ #17 embraces the offseason in style. However, his head coach Sean McDermott, who backed his MVP win, was not too keen on joining him in Milan. For McDermott, Buffalo is the place to be.

When asked about Allen’s Italian getaway and if he got an invitation, too, McDermott’s response was rather straightforward: “I spend most of my offseason in Buffalo in the elements and we look forward to that. I love skiing and being around Buffalo. So, no clear invitation came through on my phone. But we’ll see,” he said with a smirk on Good Morning Football. But he wasn’t done.

“Sometimes we get questioned, ‘Hey where do you go in offseason?’Well, we live in Buffalo, we’re members of the community and we love it there. I think that’s real part of being in Buffalo and being the head coach of Buffalo Bills,” he added. It turns out McDermott has his priorities set.

While he didn’t sound too enthusiastic about joining his QB in Milan, he supported his MVP win during a media availability from Indianapolis at the NFL scouting combine on Monday.

“It validates everything that he’s been doing for years. It validates his leadership this year, the way he’s played on the field this season, the way he’s matured off the field, on the field…When you do that at the level that he did it at on a consistent basis, the result was the MVP. So, to me, as I said during the year, later in the year in particular, he deserved that,” the HC said.

Meanwhile, the NFL’s new power couple has been turning heads in Milan. E! spotted the usually private couple enjoying their time in the city looking sharp.

Sure, we know how fashionista Hailee could get… And she was in her element. Allen? Well, the man cleans up well. Maybe this is his audition for a post-NFL modeling career. Brady did it. Why not Allen?

But his focus will soon turn to the Bills, once the offseason drills get underway. There will be a lot of expectations and pressure come the new season, but GM Beane knows how Allen will try to use this MVP win and the heartache of the Chiefs’ defeat to motivate himself and according to him, that is enough 7.

Sean doesn’t want to put pressure on Josh Allen… But that’s the game!

Josh Allen just won NFL MVP. But he doesn’t care about trophies unless they come with confetti. Another season, another forgetting loss to the Chiefs. Another year of watching Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid walk into the Februaryball, what Buffalo has been chasing for decades. Frustrating? Absolutely. Fuel for Allen? Even more so.

Beane knows it, too. When asked if the pressure to win was mounting on Allen, he didn’t hesitate. “I don’t think it’s more,” Beane said. “When you live in Buffalo and the four Super Bowls and how many times we’ve come close — every time that we come up short like we unfortunately did again this year, I think the chip just gets bigger on Josh. Who doesn’t appreciate being the MVP? But Josh Allen wakes up every day to hold the Super Bowl trophy.”

Meanwhile, Sean McDermott is walking the fine line between coach-speak and reality. He won’t say Allen has to deliver a ring, but let’s not kid ourselves. This team is built to win now. With James Cook looking for a major payday, Buffalo has to make some tough choices. Pay the man and keep the offense balanced? Or invest elsewhere and hope Allen keeps pulling off Superman acts?

Cook’s numbers speak for themselves—back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and a league-best 16 touchdowns last year. But the NFL isn’t sentimental. Running backs don’t get quarterback money. Christian McCaffrey is the only player making more than what Cook’s asking. So Buffalo has to decide: Is Cook essential to Allen’s success, or is this just another tough business decision?

One thing’s for sure—Allen isn’t slowing down. He’s got the MVP title, but he’s still missing the title. And if history tells us anything, the bigger the chip on his shoulder, the more dangerous he gets. Maybe this time, it’s enough to finally break through.