There was a time when he worked on his family’s cotton farm, and now he’s the NFL MVP. That’s the kind of origin story people make movies about. The world will never forget the Bills’ first-ever QB to win this award, Josh Allen. Even though there were many great players on the list, it all boiled down to one. Lamar Jackson put up a good fight with 23 first-place votes, but Josh got the upper hand with 27. He threw for 3,731 yards, scored 28 touchdowns, and posted a high 77.3 QBR, securing the victory. Yes, he wasn’t able to get his hands on the Lombardi this year, but he let the people know who the GOAT is.

A person is not considered the greatest because of what he has achieved in his life or what his stats are. He’s remembered forever for the kindness he shows toward others around him. That’s exactly what Josh Allen did when he got his MVP award. His speech was all about respect for the people who helped him reach the top. But in the midst of it all, he didn’t forget to give a shoutout to the most unexpected person. Josh said, “We’ve got such a great locker room in Buffalo, and it takes everybody from the equipment staff to the training room to the strength staff to Slick Rick in the mail room.” Slick Rick – who’s that now?

If you take one brick out of a Jenga tower, it collapses in seconds. Josh Allen’s words made us realize the importance of every single person in our lives and how their efforts shape our own growth. That’s exactly why he gave a heartfelt shoutout to Roderick Morrow, aka Slick Rick—a man most NFL fans had never heard of before. Rick isn’t a star player, a coach, or even someone in the limelight. He works in the Bills’ mailroom, handling things most people overlook. But for Josh, Rick is just as much a part of the team as anyone wearing a jersey on game day.

Rick has been in the Bills’ building for a whopping 15 years, quietly doing his job, and never looking for recognition. Yet, in that moment, standing on the biggest stage of his career, Josh Allen made sure the world knew his name. And when Rick heard it in the MVP speech, his reaction was pure and heartfelt.

The man – virtually unknown to almost all – was overwhelmed as he said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I was watching it live, and when he said my name, my phone started blowing up. It means everything to me... I’m just an average person. I come in, do my job, and go home. To know that someone like Josh even thinks about me, let alone mentions me in his MVP speech, is unreal.” For him, it wasn’t just a shoutout—it was proof that no role is too small, and that every contribution matters in the journey to greatness.

Josh Allen’s speech shoutout highlighted a important point

When Josh Allen came to the stage to receive his award, not even once did he talk about himself. He just gave a shoutout to everyone who’s been there in his life. The second he held the award, he made it clear that while the trophy had his name on it, it’s all because of his team’s efforts.

“I know this is an individual award. And it says Most Valuable Player on it, but I think it’s derived from team success. And I love my team,” Josh humbly said. The Bills loyalist also didn’t miss the chance to name the people who gave him the opportunity to play in the big league. “I’d like to thank the Bills organization, Terry and Kim Pegula, Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott. Thank you guys for drafting me seven and a half years ago. Feels just like yesterday.” But the most heartfelt moment came when he spoke about his family, especially his parents, Joel and LaVon.

“In my 20-plus years of playing football, going down to Pop Warner, I bet you they’ve missed maybe 15 games in their entire life,” he said, highlighting their unwavering support in his career – right from when he was a kid. And finally it came to his fiancée, Hailee Steinfeld – and you can bet that his words were just as touching. The star QB said, “You’ve been my rock. You are my best friend. I would not be standing on this stage if it weren’t for you.” Hailee, who has been his biggest cheerleader since they started dating in 2023, proudly celebrated his victory as her own, posting a picture of them together with the sassy caption, “That’s MVP Josh Allen to you!” All in all, the shared moment showed how behind every great athlete is a team, a family, and someone who believes in them unconditionally – and Josh Allen unconditionally recognizes it.