It was way back in 1991 that the Buffalo Bills saw one of their stars rising to the ranks of the NFL’s best player. We are talking of an era when the squad, affectionately called the “bickering bills” had become an offensive powerhouse. Led by the quarterback Jim Kelly, in that season, the Bills had staged a 13-3 record, leading the league in offensive yards and were second in scoring. However, if there was one player who shone the brightest in that run, it was 4th year running back Thurman Thomas.

Thomas led the league with 2038 all-purpose yards from scrimmage and averaged an NFL-best 4.9 yards per rush. His exceptional contributions did not go unnoticed, as he clinched the Offensive Player of the Year title, secured a spot on the first-team All-Pro roster, and ultimately claimed the coveted Most Valuable Player award (1991), solidifying his status as a football legend. More than three decades after this glory, the Bills have Josh Allen who now writes his own chapter, fueled by a cannon arm and Wyoming-sized determination. The echoes of the past met the present this week, as two MVPs from different eras shared a moment that felt like a handshake across time.

On February 8, Thurman Thomas posted a video message for Allen on Instagram. “From one MVP to another,” Thomas said, his voice thick with pride. “You have made the former players of the Buffalo Bills organization, very, very proud of you and what you’re doing and what you’re achieving right now speaks volumes of the way you were raised by your parents and how you are today.” Allen, never one for flashy speeches, reposted the clip with a simple caption.

“Love ya @thurmanthomas3434.” The exchange wasn’t just heartfelt—it was history acknowledging its heir. Thomas once redefined what a running back could do. In his rookie season with the Buffalo Bills in 1988, he played a key role in propelling the team to the AFC Championship. By his second year, he earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. In 1991, apart from the MVP award, he was named to the prestigious All-Madden team. Allen, the 2024 MVP, just redefined what a quarterback is.

Stats back the hype: Allen holds NFL records for most total touchdowns (262) and yards (30,595) in a player’s first seven seasons. Yet Buffalo’s front office knows work remains. With no All-Pro teammates in 2024, Allen carried the offense like a one-man show.

“You are the perfect fit for the Buffalo Bills community. You have meant the world not only to my family, Bills families, Bills mafia, and really, the entire Bills community,” Thomas said. “Like you said, be good, do good, God bless, and go build. Congratulations Seventeen.” The words of praise will undoubtedly propel Allen toward his ultimate goal: the Super Bowl ring. Not this time, but certainly in the next season.

Allen’s MVP trophy now sits beside Thurman Thomas’s 1991 award and O.J. Simpson’s 1973 honor. But for Allen, individual accolades ring hollow without a Super Bowl. However, people in the places where he spent his formative years are acknowledging his efforts.

Wyoming’s underdog anthem

“This is where underdogs come to shine and where real MVPs are made.” While Allen’s MVP win united Buffalo, his alma mater seized the spotlight too. During Super Bowl LIX pregame coverage, the University of Wyoming aired a 30-second ad celebrating their star alum. “Where do legends come from?” a narrator asks over clips of Allen hurdling defenders. “Some start as dreamers, even after they’re turned down again and again.”

The ad, targeting 25 markets including Denver, Dallas, and Allen’s hometown of Fresno, wasn’t just a tribute—it was a recruiting pitch. “In many respects, Josh’s story is the quintessential UW story,” said UW’s Chad Baldwin. “We worked with the Office of Admissions to ensure we hit markets where we have successfully recruited students in the past, and the ad with air on local affiliates in those areas.” Allen, once overlooked by every major college, became UW’s first NFL MVP. The ad’s tagline?

“Underdogs Come To Shine.” This season, Allen became the first QB in NFL history to lose his top two receivers (Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis) and still win MVP. He threw for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns, and rushed for 12 more—all while dragging Buffalo to the AFC Championship. Stop Josh Allen became every opponent’s mantra. They rarely did.

Josh Allen keeps writing his story, showing that underdogs thrive when given a shot—from Wyoming’s snowy fields to Buffalo’s icy playoffs. Meanwhile, Thurman Thomas’ message wasn’t just praise—it was a challenge. Keep building.

When the Super Bowl ad faded on Sunday, one truth shone through: Draft rooms may birth MVPs, but places like Laramie and Orchard Park forge legends. For Allen, the next chapter starts now. And Bills Mafia? They’ll be riding shotgun, screaming into the wind.