Will this finally be the year?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its list of finalists for their Class of 2025, and a former Minnesota Vikings legend is one step closer to hearing the call to Canton.
Jared Allen, who played for the Vikings for six seasons from 2008 to 2013, is among the fifteen modern-era finalists for the honor this season. Those who have been chosen for enshrinement as a part of this class will be honored during Super Bowl weekend.
The Vikings acquired Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2008 NFL Draft for a first-round pick and a pair of third-round selections. In his six seasons with Minnesota, he started all 96 regular season games he was on the roster for, as well as four postseason contests. He was a three-time First-Team All-Pro for the Vikings and was named to the Pro Bowl four times while a member of the team.
Allen collected 85.5 sacks during his time in Minnesota, along with 16 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns.
Here is the full list of this year’s modern-era candidates for enshrinement:
- CB Eric Allen (Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders)
- DE Jared Allen (Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers)
- OT Willie Anderson (Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens)
- G Jahri Evans (New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers)
- TE Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers)
- WR Torry Holt (St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars)
- LB Luke Kuechly (Carolina Panthers)
- QB Eli Manning (New York Giants)
- WR Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens)
- OLB Terrell Suggs (Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs)
- RB Fred Taylor (Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots)
- K Adam Vinatieri (New England Patriots)
- WR Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts)
- S Darren Woodson (Dallas Cowboys)
- G Marshall Yanda (Baltimore Ravens)
Players in their first year of eligibility are shown in italics in the above list.
This will be Allen’s fifth attempt at enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He first became eligible in 2021 and has been passed over on his first four attempts.
Here’s hoping that this is finally the year that Jared Allen will get his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We’ll know in a little more than a month.