Josh Allen Speaks Out Following the Tragic Death of Bills Teammate’s Son
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has spoken out for the first time following the tragic drowning of his teammate Ed Oliver’s 2-year-old son, who also bore the name Ed.
“To start, I want to extend my gratitude to those who were aware of this and allowed him the time he needed. It’s heartbreaking,” Allen, 30, stated to reporters at a press conference on Saturday, August 22. “Learning how it became public — it fills me with immense sadness and anger at the same time.”
The Buffalo Bills organization officially announced the unfortunate passing of Oliver’s son on Saturday, after various sports influencers had speculated about the incident on social media in the days prior. Several NFL insiders confirmed that they had knowledge of the toddler’s death but chose to withhold reporting it out of respect for Oliver, 28, and his family.
Allen — who welcomed his first child, a daughter named Harper, with wife Hailee Steinfeld in April — expressed his disappointment regarding the “very unfortunate” manner in which the news was disclosed.
“As a teammate of [Ed] and someone in this locker room, all we can do is support him,” he added. “There are no words to ease the situation except to be there for him in every way he needs. That’s our commitment. That’s what teammates do: we uplift one another and seek to provide support during tough times. I can’t imagine the pain he’s enduring.”
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to a “life-in-danger call” at Oliver’s Texas residence on June 28, where they were informed that the 2-year-old was found “unresponsive in the pool” by his parents. (ESPN and TMZ were the first to report these details.)
The toddler was taken to a local hospital in Houston, Texas, where he was pronounced dead at 7:18 PM, as reported by officials. Oliver’s name was not specifically mentioned in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s statement.
Us has reached out to the sheriff’s office for additional comments.
“There’s nothing you can say or do,” Allen remarked on Saturday. “You have to consider what someone in that situation feels. [They experience] their emotions and should handle them as they wish. His teammates have been giving him the space and time he needs. Simultaneously, we’ve been around him, showing our love and support without reopening wounds. We understand that many in the locker room, especially on the D-line, knew, and everyone is just rallying around him. He’s not here right now, not because of [the tragedy].”
The quarterback added, “Just being present for him, placing a hand on him without needing to say too much—he knows he has support. It’s about playing football together. The guys are very aware of his situation, his feelings, and we’re here for him in whatever way he requires.”
The Bills organization has been “aware of the [death of Oliver’s son] since it happened” and were “aligned” with the defensive tackle in terms of publicly sharing their condolences, according to ESPN.
Despite his personal loss, Oliver has been actively participating in training camp with the Bills this summer. He was held out of the team’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday due to a “minor injury,” per ESPN. (The Bills secured a victory against the Browns, 31-7.)
Earlier on Saturday, the Buffalo Bills publicly expressed their “condolences” to Oliver and his family during their time of mourning.
“On behalf of the entire Buffalo Bills organization, we wish to express our heartfelt condolences to Ed Oliver and his family for the immense loss of his son,” stated the team’s general manager, Brandon Beane. “This is an unimaginable tragedy for any parent.”
He continued, “We will continue to support Ed and his family as we navigate through this loss together.”
Bills head coach Joe Brady mentioned during a press conference on Saturday that he could not “fathom” the sorrow Oliver and his family must be experiencing.
“Whatever [mourning] entails, however he prefers to manage it, we will respect his wishes,” Brady, 36, told reporters. “He’s absent right now [from Saturday’s preseason game] due to an injury and coping with this situation. This [tragedy] isn’t the reason he’s not here.”
He went on, “It’s tough. It’s always difficult to see him. I can’t begin to imagine it, and I haven’t found the right words. All I can offer is my support in whatever form he needs.”
Oliver has spent his entire NFL career with the Bills, having been selected ninth overall by the team during the 2019 NFL Draft. He previously played for the University of Houston Cougars in college.
The athlete also has a daughter, Eva, with his partner, Dymond Gladney.
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