Originally appeared on E! Online
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld had a solid game plan before their baby’s arrival.
Among the crucial stats: her name. Three months after the Buffalo Bills quarterback and Sinners actress welcomed their daughter, he shared insight into how they landed on the name Harper Haize Allen.
“It was an early on thought that we had,” Allen told E! News’ Will Marfuggi in an exclusive interview. When it comes to the inspiration behind her name, however, his bride was calling the plays. “She can answer that question better than I can,” he noted, “so I’ll let her answer that one.”
While choosing baby Harper’s name was a no-brainer for the new parents, the athlete—who married the Pitch Perfect star last May—admitted that there have been some hurdles along the way.
“That first day our baby was born, I didn’t expect the baby to be up so much throughout the night,” he recalled. “Everyone talks about how the first two nights they sleep the entire day. ‘You’re going to be fine.’ Our baby was not.”
“I remember at 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 5 o’clock, rolling around,” he continued, “rocking the baby, trying to get it to go back down to sleep. It was then I realized, ‘All right, we’re going to have a tough one here.’”
Thankfully, the all-star football player has an MVP when it comes to his new fatherhood journey: Natrol Ultra Sleep.
“I’m now 30 years old. I’m now a father,” Allen—who partnered with Natrol for its sleep supplements and the Ultra Energy gummies—explained. He’s since begun focusing on “the importance of sleep and what it does for your body, how it really restores you. To have Ultra Sleep and know that I’m going to get a good night’s rest and wake up fresh and rejuvenated, that’s well worth it to me.”
After all, he and Steinfeld are now living on Harper’s schedule.
“If I got to sleep before 11:30 p.m. back in the day, I’d consider that a win for me,” he shared. “Now, if I’m not in bed by 10 p.m., I feel like I’m dragging. Once that baby goes down, I know she’s gonna be up early, so I gotta get to sleep as soon as I can.”
But for Allen and Steinfeld, taking care of a newborn is a team effort, adding, “I will only take it if I know I’m going to be able to get some extra sleep.”
While adding Natrol to his nighttime routine has been a game-changer, he and Steinfeld, 29, have also made other adjustments to promote better sleep.
“Limiting some of the TV shows that me and my wife are watching and just turning the screens off and just trying to get to bed at a better time,” he added. “Fortunately, our baby’s sleeping really well, so it’s been good.”
As Allen and Steinfeld embrace the early days of parenthood with baby Harper, keep reading for a look back at their pitch-perfect romance.
May 2023: Romance Rumors
Following Josh Allen‘s breakup with longtime girlfriend Brittany Williams, the Buffalo Bills quarterback stepped out for dinner in NYC with Hailee Steinfeld.
Two months later, the duo confirmed their relationship while kissing on vacation in Mexico.
March 2024: Surprise Appearance
Nearly a year after the duo first sparked romance rumors, the athlete and the actress made a rare social media appearance while helping his sister, Nicala Madden, reveal the sex of her baby in an adorable Tiktok video.
March 2024: Très Romantique
The Edge of Seventeen star and the NFL player went on a romantic outing in matching khaki outfits during Paris Fashion Week.
July 2024: The City of Love
The NFL star made the couple’s romance Instagram official, including their glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in his July 23 photo dump.
July 2024: Part Of the Family
Included in that same post, the “Starving” singer squeezed in for a photo with Josh’s family.
August 2024: Mr. Hard Launch
“Mr. Hard Launch,” as reporter Kay Adams called him on her Up & Adams show, bashfully admitted “we love love” when asked about his and Hailee’s relationship.
November 2024: Engagement
Hailee and Josh confirmed they were engaged in a November 29, 2024 Instagram post showing the athlete getting down on one knee as the Oscar nominee leaned in to give him a kiss. They captioned the post with the date of their major milestone: 11-22-24.
February 2025: Red Carpet Ready
Just a few months after their engagement, Josh and Hailee officially made their red carpet debut at the NFL Honors, where he was named MVP. And during his acccepance speech, he gave her a heartfelt shoutout.
“You’ve been my rock and my best friend,” he told her. “I would not be standing on this stage if it weren’t for you.”
May 2025: Just Married!
They said “I do” in a stunning California wedding ceremony, where she donned a strapless bridal gown with elbow-length gloves.
December 2025: Baby on the Way
The couple announced they’re expecting their first child with a snowy maternity shoot in her Beau Society Substack.
April 2026: Welcoming Their New Addition
The pair announced the birth of their first baby together on April 2.