If you’ve spent any time watching Buffalo Bills games, you’ve probably seen the camera pan to the stands. There, amid a sea of red, white, and blue, is the Allen family. They’re loud, they’re supportive, and they look remarkably alike. This has led to a persistent internet rumor: the idea that the 6’5” signal-caller has a twin.
Actually, he doesn't.
But it’s an easy mistake to make. Josh Allen has a younger brother named Jason who looks so much like him that people often assume they’re twins. In reality, Jason is about 13 months younger than Josh. They grew up side-by-side in the tiny town of Firebaugh, California, basically doing everything together, which is probably why the "twin" label stuck. While Josh is busy truck-sticking linebackers in the NFL, Jason has carved out a life that is equally rooted in the sports world, just without the multi-million dollar stadium contracts.
The Man Behind the "Twin" Rumors: Who is Jason Allen?
Jason isn't just "Josh Allen’s brother." He’s a former athlete who played baseball at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Growing up on a 3,000-acre farm in the Central Valley, the two brothers were essentially inseparable. Their mom, LaVonne, has often said they were best friends who pushed each other to the brink of insanity with their competitiveness.
Whether it was racing to the Xbox controller or seeing who could finish their farm chores faster, the rivalry was real.
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Today, Jason is a family man. He’s married and has a daughter named Phoebe, making Josh a proud uncle. During the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday, Josh famously mentioned how excited he was to finally meet his niece. It’s that kind of close-knit vibe that defines them. While Josh moved to Wyoming and then Buffalo, Jason stayed closer to their California roots for a long time, though he is a frequent flyer to Highmark Stadium.
What does Jason Allen do for a living?
Honestly, Jason has stayed relatively low-key compared to his brother, but he hasn't left the world of athletics. He has worked as a coach and mentor in youth football programs. It makes sense. If you grow up in a household where your dad, Joel, was a president of the local baseball organization and your mom coached volleyball, you don't just "quit" sports.
Jason uses his experience growing up in a high-intensity athletic environment to help kids develop their skills. He’s often credited with having the same "grit" that Josh displays on the field. Local parents in their community have praised his ability to teach not just the mechanics of the game, but the discipline required to succeed.
The Family Business and the Firebaugh Connection
You can't talk about Jason without talking about the farm. The Allen brothers weren't pampered athletes. They were "work until the sun goes down" farm kids. They spent their summers:
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- Digging irrigation ditches.
- Clearing weeds in cotton fields.
- Setting up pipes for the cantaloupe crops.
- Washing dishes at their mom’s restaurant, The Farmer’s Daughter.
This upbringing is the reason Jason and Josh are so tight. When you're 16 years old and stuck in the California heat pulling weeds, your brother is the only person who truly gets the struggle. That shared history is why Jason is at almost every big game. He’s not there for the fame; he’s there because he was the one who helped Josh get there by being his toughest opponent on the backyard basketball court.
The Kawasaki Disease Connection
There is a deeper, more personal side to Jason’s story that many fans don’t know. When they were younger, Jason was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, a rare condition that causes inflammation in blood vessels.
He was hospitalized for a significant period.
Watching his brother go through that had a profound impact on Josh. It’s a big reason why Josh is so heavily involved with the Patricia Allen Fund and Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. When Josh sees kids struggling in the hospital, he’s thinking about Jason. It’s a layer of their relationship that goes far beyond football stats.
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Why people get the "Twin" thing wrong
The confusion often stems from another Josh Allen in the NFL. Josh Hines-Allen, the star defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars, actually does have a twin. But that’s a completely different family.
For the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, the "twin" is just a nickname for a brother who is 13 months apart but shares the same face and the same relentless work ethic.
Jason Allen chose a path of mentorship and family life over the NFL spotlight, but he remains the backbone of the "Allen Family" brand. If you’re looking for him, don't look on the 50-yard line. Look in the family suite or on a youth football field in California, where he's likely coaching the next generation of Firebaugh athletes.
Next steps for fans: If you want to see the impact of the Allen family’s journey, look into the work of the Oishei Children's Hospital, which was inspired in part by Jason's childhood health battles. You can also follow Josh’s sisters, Nicala and Makenna, on social media, as they often post behind-the-scenes looks at the family's travels to Bills games.