REJECTED DEAL: Josh Allen Turns Down $4M Orioles Offer to Chase NFL Glory
MD 
In a move that stunned both football and baseball insiders, American football quarterback Josh Allen once turned down a jaw-dropping $4 million offer from the Baltimore Orioles — a decision that would ultimately redefine the course of his career.
Before becoming the face of the Buffalo Bills and one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the NFL, Allen was a promising multi-sport athlete with a cannon for an arm. The Orioles, like many MLB scouts, saw his raw athleticism and pitching potential as a golden ticket. They reportedly offered him a $4 million signing bonus straight out of high school — a life-changing sum for any teenager.
But Allen declined.
Instead of donning a baseball cap and heading to the minor leagues, Allen took a risk few would dare: he bet on himself in football, enrolling at Reedley College and later transferring to the University of Wyoming. It was a long shot. He had no Division I offers coming out of high school, and his path to the NFL was anything but guaranteed.
Fast-forward a few years, and Allen’s gamble paid off. He was selected seventh overall in the 2018 NFL Draft and has since become a franchise cornerstone for the Bills. Known for his rocket arm, bulldozing runs, and never-say-die attitude, Allen has led Buffalo deep into the playoffs and remains one of the league’s top MVP contenders year after year.
Looking back, the rejected Orioles deal is a fascinating “what if.” Had he taken the money, Allen might be grinding through the minor leagues instead of launching 70-yard bombs in sold-out stadiums.
“I always believed I could make it in football,” Allen said in a past interview. “It wasn’t the easiest route, but it was the right one for me.”
With endorsement deals, Pro Bowl selections, and a massive $258 million contract extension signed in 2021, Allen’s decision to turn down baseball riches looks like one of the smartest moves in modern sports.
