​Before Chris Lillis interviewed Josh Allen about his Olympic dreams, the Pittsford native was a Buffalo Bills fan hoping to meet the quarterback at training camp. This week, the two-time Olympic gold medalist connected with Allen via video for NBC Sports and asked the Bills star whether he would represent Team USA in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
It wasn’t the first time the two had crossed paths. Lillis, who grew up a lifelong Bills fan with parents who still hold season tickets, first posed for a photo with Allen during Bills training camp in August, with Allen trying on Lillis’ gold medal. In a January interview, Lillis joked that one of his greatest accomplishments was that Josh Allen follows him on Instagram. For Lillis, the interview represented another chapter in a relationship that had evolved from fan to fellow elite athlete.
Lillis opened the interview by telling Allen he grew up a devoted Bills fan before congratulating the quarterback on becoming a father. Allen redirected the conversation back to Lillis. “Being a U.S. Olympic gold medalist is a dream that I’ve always had and I’ve never had the chance to accomplish it,” Allen said. “Congrats to you. That’s the coolest freaking thing.” Lillis, who has two gold medals in mixed team aerials, smiled and reminded Allen that opportunities may still exist. “That might not be true,” Lillis replied. “We’re going to talk about that.”
Their discussion quickly turned to flag football’s debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Allen said he would gratefully accept the opportunity if Team USA came calling. “I would sign up tomorrow to be on the team,” Allen said. “I’ve always dreamed of competing for my country and being able to wear my own gold medal, but we’ll see how it works.” He also acknowledged there was uncertainty about earning a roster spot. “I don’t know if they’d want me,” Allen admitted. “I don’t know the ins-and-outs really of flag football. I watched maybe a couple of months ago and it was a much different game than I thought it would be. But I do think that if there is a potential space, I would love to do it.”
Lillis also asked Allen what has helped the Bills build such strong chemistry during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Allen’s response touched more on culture than Xs and Os. “You need to buy into the whole Buffalo lifestyle,” he said. “There’s not a lot of flashiness to it. There aren’t many places where you can go explore and get lost in bright lights and clubs.” He continued, however, that team dinners at players’ houses and attending kids’ birthday parties play a significant role in bonding. “But going over to people’s houses and going to team dinners and going to kids’ birthday parties, I do think that translates into trust off the field, which makes it that much easier to trust guys on the field.” He emphasized that those off-field relationships bleed into Sundays, strengthening the on-field chemistry that has defined his tenure with the Bills.