See The Speech That Got Jessica Pegula emotional As $70M-worth Josh Allen’s NFL MVP dedicated to fiancée Hailee Steinfeld, parents & Bills teammates
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Jessica Pegula Reacts Emotionally to Josh Allen’s MVP Win and Speech
Jessica Pegula shared her heartfelt reaction after Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2024 season. The tennis star, whose parents, Terry and Kim Pegula, own the Bills, was deeply moved by Allen’s acceptance speech at the NFL Honors ceremony in New Orleans.
Allen secured his first MVP award with 27 first-place votes, totaling 383 points, narrowly edging out Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who received 23 first-place votes and 362 points. Despite not being selected for the first-team All-Pro—an honor that went to Jackson—Allen made history as the first player in nearly four decades to win MVP without that recognition.
Allen’s Emotional Speech
During his speech, Allen expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaches, and family, including a heartfelt tribute to his fiancée, actress Hailee Steinfeld.
“I’d like to thank Joel and Lavoine, my parents, who in my 20-plus years of playing football, from Pop Warner until now, have probably missed no more than 15 games. They are so dedicated to supporting me and my favorite teammates—my sister, my brother, and my little sister,” he said.
He went on to acknowledge their sacrifices:
“Thank you for all the support, time, money, and energy spent on my journey. I love you guys. I know you take a lot of pride in this as well.”
Turning to Steinfeld, Allen added:
“You’ve been my rock. You are my best friend. I would not be standing on this stage if it weren’t for you.”
Pegula’s Proud Reaction
Allen’s win and touching speech filled Pegula with pride. The 2024 US Open finalist took to Instagram Stories, sharing a post with the caption:
“Doing the @buffalobills proud.”
Pegula Gears Up for Qatar Open
Meanwhile, Pegula is focused on bouncing back after an up-and-down start to her 2025 season. She reached the Adelaide International final before falling to Madison Keys but suffered a disappointing third-round exit at the Australian Open to Olga Danilovic.
Now, she turns her attention to the WTA 1000 Qatar Open in Doha, starting Sunday, February 9. As the tournament’s No. 3 seed, Pegula has received a first-round bye and will open her campaign against either Elina Svitolina or Marketa Vondrousova in the second round. A victory could set up a potential showdown with Daria Kasatkina or Anna Kalinskaya in the following round.
If Pegula advances further, she could face Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals—a major test on her path to the title. A possible semifinal clash with either Coco Gauff or Emma Navarro could follow, with top-seeded Iga Swiatek or Elena Rybakina likely awaiting in the final.
With Allen’s MVP triumph serving as inspiration, Pegula will be aiming to make her mark in Doha and continue her pursuit of a major WTA title.
