While filming an NFL Network feature on Bills owner Kim Pegula in 2016 (and gathering information for an accompanying NFL.com profile, “The Queen of Buffalo”), Mike got to know her daughter Jessie, who at the time was an injury-plagued tennis player battling to stay on the satellite circuit. She’s now the world’s 33rd-ranked player and is coming off a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open which coincided with the Bills’ first AFC championship game appearance in 26 years. We hear about Jessie’s journey from five-year-old ball-smacker to her recent run of excellence, learn how intimidating it is to face Serena Williams in a final and break down the grunting that occurs on the tour (and in friendly matchups with mom). We also get into star quarterback Josh Allen’s impending contract extension and discover which member of the Pegula family “always believed in” him, even during his early struggles. And everyone makes fun of Mike and his frequent verbal sparring partner in political discussions: Jessie’s father, Terry.
Fresh off a recent run to the Australian Open quarterfinals, Jessie Pegula details her unlikely rise to the upper echelon of the WTA Tour… and, equally impressive, her history of unwavering support for Bills quarterback Josh Allen, even as her mother grew skeptical during his first two seasons. Jessie also outs Kim as the most competitive person in the family and as a grunter on the hardcourt before getting into meatier matters, such as facing the great Serena Williams in a tournament final… and whether she and her competitors should stage WWE-like feuds to increase interest. Kim, meanwhile, explains why her quarterback will soon receive a lucrative contract extension and lays out her plan to help improve the NFL hiring cycle. Oh, and we hear about the time Kim bravely brought Mike to a meeting with the family members of a Trump Cabinet official.