The Big Lead

Jim Nantz has enormous praise for Bills QB Josh Allen

The Hall of Fame broadcaster can't speak highly enough about the 29-year-old star's character.

By J.P. Hoornstra

An audience watches broadcaster Jim Nantz (far left) moderate a discussion between former Indianapolis Colts (from left) center Jeff Saturday, quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, tight end Dallas Clark, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, defensive end Dwight Freeney and coach Tony Dungy on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, during the “Night of Champions” at the Murat Theatre at the Old National Centre. The event featured a panel discussion of players and coaches from the Indianapolis Colts.
An audience watches broadcaster Jim Nantz (far left) moderate a discussion between former Indianapolis Colts (from left) center Jeff Saturday, quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, tight end Dallas Clark, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, defensive end Dwight Freeney and coach Tony Dungy on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, during the “Night of Champions” at the Murat Theatre at the Old National Centre. The event featured a panel discussion of players and coaches from the Indianapolis Colts. / Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
facebooktwitter

Jim Nantz is a member of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the youngest person to be inducted into both the Pro Football and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fames. He's a four-time Emmy Award winner and five-time National Sportscaster the Year since joining CBS in 1985.

Along the way, he's met a lot of people, which is what made his recent praise of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen so noteworthy.

MORE: Veteran NBC sportscaster reveals what Micah Parsons trade says about Cowboys

Nantz, 69, called the 29-year-old star "one of the greatest human beings I've met" at a ceremony to receive the 2025 Saratoga Senior Center Man of the Year Award.

“He’s on a very short list of people that I’m just blown away by how they handle themselves around people and the acts of goodness they do," Nantz said of Allen. "He makes everyone in Buffalo feel special, never turns anyone away.”

The 2025 season will be Allen's eighth as the Bills' top quarterback. They have not posted a losing record since Allen's rookie season of 2018. Last year, the Bills went 13-4 and scored a franchise-record 525 points as Allen claimed his first MVP award.

Allen's off-the-field impact can't be measured merely in cereal box covers or celebrity relationships, though he has one of each. The son of a rancher, Allen's philanthropic ventures include fundraising for the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo.

GET MORE TOP STORIES from The Big Lead by subscribing to TBL YouTube channel

CFB: 3 biggest headlines from Week 1 of 2025 college football season

SPORTS MEDIA: Best ESPN College GameDay signs for Lee Corso's final show

DeBOER DOWN: Florida State Seminoles stun Alabama in Week 1 of 2025 college football season

PLAYOFFS?! Lee Corso makes college football national championship prediction ahead of final show

VIRAL: Alabama football fan becomes instant meme by perfectly flipping bird after upset loss

Home/NFL