Jim Kelly’s Family at Rock Bottom as Josh Allen’s Sister Prays for Bills Legend

“We had hoped for better days — but the last few have been some of the hardest,” Jim Kelly wrote in the latest update of his newborn grandson. The baby, affectionately called “Little Bean,” had not responded well when doctors weaned his medication and took him off the ventilator, and so oxygen support was needed again.

It all began with the first update on July 14. Earlier that week, Kelly’s daughter, Erin, and her husband, Parker Bean, welcomed their first child. What should have been a moment of celebration became a medical emergency. The newborn arrived with “unexpected medical complications” and was placed on a ventilator almost immediately. The family stood beside the machines that helped the baby breathe, and their recent Instagram posts turned into a string of updates from a hospital room that had become their second home. 

The Bills icon, who once endured the loss of his son, Hunter, is now watching his newborn grandson face a fight of his own in the NICU. “And honestly, it feels like we’ve gone beyond rock bottom,” he admitted in his latest Instagram post, before anchoring himself to scripture: “Jesus is still the Rock at the bottom.” The community heard him—and it didn’t take long for familiar names from the Bills family to speak up. Among the first was Nicala Madden, sister of current Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who welcomed her second child in September 2024. 

With a firsthand understanding of the fears that come with new parenthood, she sent a message on Instagram: “Praise Jesus 🙏 continuing to pray for sweet baby Bean and your beautiful family. ❤️” Other members of the Bills community—fans and former players alike—flooded the comments with hearts and prayers. Mitch Trubisky’s wife, Hillary, posted “♥️♥️🙏🙏” in support. Paying heed to Kelly’s request: “Please don’t stop praying. We desperately need you to lift us up,” several offered love and prayers while others shared similar stories of struggles.  

The family hasn’t shared medical specifics, but Kelly listed out exactly what they’re praying for: that healing will come with time, that the baby’s body grows stronger, that medication won’t be needed much longer, and that future interventions can be avoided; “A healing miracle!” as he puts it. “Although we believe he is a miracle already,” he wrote, “we’re still praying for a miracle for our grandson.”

Kelly also offered a glimpse into how the family is navigating these long NICU days. In this recent one, he shared a picture of Erin embracing her grandmother—Kelly’s mother—who has “been right here with us every single day,” as he wrote in the caption. Hospital machines and wires in the background, against which stood two women who’ve barely left the NICU. “Thank you for everything,” Kelly wrote. “I love you mom so much.” Until there’s better news, the family continues to wait, side by side, in hope.