Legendary Vikings Pass-Rusher Named Hall of Fame Finalist Again
For legendary Vikings pass-rusher Jared Allen, it’s been close but not close enough in terms of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In each of his first three years of eligibility (2021-23), Allen was named a finalist but never quite made the cut to get in. Now, the pass rusher has once again been named a finalist to become one of five modern-era players selected for the Class of 2024.
Legendary Vikings Pass-Rusher Named HOF Finalist
The Pro Football Hall of Fame recognized Allen via a tweet, which read, “Jared Allen played for four NFL teams, but is most remembered for his run with the @Vikings from 2008-13, during which he made four of his five trips to the Pro Bowl. Allen is a Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.”
Joining Allen on the list of modern-era finalists for 2024 are the following names:
- DB Eric Allen
- OT Willie Anderson
- IOL Jahri Evans
- DE Dwight Freeney
- TE Antonio Gates*
- DB Rodney Harrison
- WR Devin Hester
- WR Torry Holt
- WR Andre Johnson
- DE Julius Peppers*
- RB Fred Taylor
- WR Reggie Wayne
- LB Patrick Willis
- S Darren Woodson
*: 2024 is first year of eligibility
Allen got his career started with the Kansas City Chiefs where he spent four seasons from 2004-07 and made his first of five Pro Bowls during the 2007 season. He was also named a first-team All-Pro during that 2007 season and would be selected in three consecutive years from 2007-09.
Heading into 2008, Allen would be traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a first-round pick, two third-rounders, and a sixth-rounder. Minnesota then offered Allen a six-year, $31 million contract.
The Vikings won the NFC North division in each of the next two years and were an overtime away from making the Super Bowl in 2009. In Allen’s six years with the Vikings, the team made three postseason appearances, and Allen never had fewer than 11 sacks. His dominance from the defensive end position came to the peak of its powers in 2011 when he recorded 22 sacks, just half a sack behind Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22.5.
Allen would go on to spend six seasons with the Vikings, totaling 329 tackles, 104 tackles for loss, and 85.5 sacks before finishing his career with stints in Chicago and Carolina. He would ultimately call it quits following the 2015 season.
Allen currently sits 12th on the official all-time sacks list by recording 136.0 over the course of his 12-year career. He was a menacing pass-rusher in his prime and finished eight different seasons with double-digit sacks, leading the league in the category twice.
During the 2022 season, Allen was nominated for the Vikings Ring of Honor and made his memorable horseback entrance onto the field during halftime of Minnesota’s Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Hopefully, the fourth time can be the charm and Allen lands in his rightful place among the NFL’s legends in Canton, Ohio.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.