Tag: Jared Allen

Why these Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists should be inducted in 2024

Our NFL Wire editors stated their case for each finalist to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

It’s a busy week for the NFL. Not only will the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers battle it out in Super Bowl 58, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame will welcome a new class to Canton.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be announced during “NFL Honors,” which airs Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on CBS and NFL Network.

There are currently 15 modern-era finalists, three senior finalists and one coaching/contributor finalist up for the Hall of Fame, including two first-year eligible players — tight end Antonio Gates and defensive end Julius Peppers.

Our NFL Wire editors stated their case for each finalist to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Jared Allen named finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024

The man with the mullet is one step closer. Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is a finalist for the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Vikings’ star defender for six seasons is beyond deserving of being enshrined in Canton. The Idaho State star was a fourth-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004. The Vikings traded a first-round pick and two third-round picks to acquire the emerging star player.

In his career, Allen played in 187 games and accumulated 136 sacks, including a 2011 season where he had 22.0 sacks, just 0.5 from tying Michael Strahan’s record. He was a finalist in 2023 but just missed getting the call.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be announced during the NFL honors Super Bowl weekend.

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Former Bears Devin Hester, Julius Peppers named finalists for Hall of Fame 2024

Former Bears Devin Hester, Julius Peppers, and Jared Allen were named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.

Three former Chicago Bears are one step closer to football immortality. Devin Hester, Julius Peppers, and Jared Allen were named three of the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 on Wednesday evening.

Hester has been named a finalist for the third time in as many years since he became eligible for the Hall of Fame. The legendary Bears return specialist changed the game when he was drafted in 2006, setting various records for both kickoff and punt returns throughout his career. The former All-Pro holds records for most career return touchdowns (20), most career punt return touchdowns (14), and most return touchdowns in a single season (6). He also made both the 2000s and 2010s All-Decade Teams. Hester played for the Bears from 2006 to 2013.

Peppers, meanwhile, spent the majority of his career with the Carolina Panthers but was a Bear for four seasons from 2010 to 2013. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2010 and made three Pro Bowls while with the Bears, helping lead them to the 2010 NFC Championship game. Peppers has the fifth-most sacks in NFL history with 159.5, 37.5 of which came with the Bears. He is in his first year of eligibility.

Finally, Allen spent a year and a half in Chicago from 2014–2015, at the end of his career. He was a perennial Pro Bowl player for the Minnesota Vikings for the majority of his career, totaling 136 sacks, and is in his fifth year of eligibility.

The rest of the finalists include Antonio Gates, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Patrick Willis, Fred Taylor, Dwight Freeney, Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison, Jahri Evans, Erin Allen, and Willie Anderson. Former Bears great Steve “Mongo” McMichael was also named a senior committee finalist earlier this year and is all-but guaranteed to get enshrined in Canton as well.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be announced in February, prior to Super Bowl LVIII.

Finally, Allen spent a year and a half in Chicago from 2014-2015 at the end of his career. He was a perennial Pro Bowl player for the Minnesota Vikings for the majority of his career, totaling 136 sacks, and is in his fifth year of eligibility.

The rest of the finalists include Antonio Gates, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Patrick Willis, Fred Taylor, Dwight Freeney, Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison, Jahri Evans, Erin Allen, and Willie Anderson. Former Bears great Steve “Mongo” McMichael was also named a senior committee finalist earlier this year, and is all-but guaranteed to get enshrined in Canton as well.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be announced in February prior to Super Bowl LVIII.

Danielle Hunter passes Jared Allen on all-time sacks list

Hunter now ranks fifth all-time in Vikings sacks

The Minnesota Vikings have had some prolific sack artists in the history of the franchise. From Carl Eller to Chris Doleman and Everson Griffen, the Vikings have had historically great rushers.

On Saturday afternoon, Danielle Hunter registered his 86.5th career sack, passing Jared Allen for fifth on the all-time list for the Vikings.

Hunter registered two sacks in the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals with one against tight end Tanner Hudson on a tight end screen.

Hunter also sits tied for fifth all-time in single season sacks with 15 so far this season tied with John Randle who also had 15.5 sacks in 1997.

Hunter is primed to have even more throughout the rest of the season on one of the best defenses in the National Football League.

25 SKOL’s of Christmas: Vikings trade for Jared Allen

The best sack artist that dawned a mullet was one of the best moves the Vikings ever made

Welcome to the 25 SKOL’s of Christmas!

In a similar vein to how Freeform has done the 25 days of Christmas, we will look back at different moments in Vikings history to bring a little extra joy to you this holiday season.

It’s that simple. The holidays can be a trying time for some people and we want to put a smile on people’s faces by reminiscing about some truly joyous times in Vikings history.

On the fourth SKOL of Christmas, the Vikings gave to me: a trade for Jared Allen.

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When Brad Childress took over as the Vikings’ head coach in 2006, he made it his mission to fix the trenches on both sides of the ball. The first move was Steve Hutchinson with the infamous poison pill and they followed it up the next season by trading with the Kansas City Chiefs for Allen.

It wasn’t a cheap price, as they gave up the 17th, 72nd and 83rd overall picks in the 2008 draft for Allen and it paid off well for both sides. The Chiefs drafted left tackle Branden Albert and running back Jamaal Charles and the Vikings got an All-Pro edge rusher that they desperately needed.

In his six seasons with the Vikings, Allen accumulated 85.5 sacks, including an astounding 22.0 in 2011 when he was just 0.5 away from tying Michael Strahan’s all-time record.

His impact was massive and immediate. The Vikings’ defense took major leaps in his first couple of seasons with Allen as they made the playoffs each of those years. None of those games were more impactful than Brett Favre’s first game against the Green Bay Packers where he had 4.5 sacks in a dominating performance.

While his career only lasted six seasons with the Vikings, he was inducted into the Vikings’ Ring of Honor earlier this season where he rode in on a horse. He did the same way when he announced his retirement.

His mullet and flair for the dramatic made him unique, but his motor and immense talent separated him from the rest. A tremendous player that was the catalyst for the Vikings’ 2009 run.

Previous SKOL’s of Christmas:

Drafting Randy Moss
Vikings 1997 Wild Card Comeback
Jarius Wright Walks Off the Jets

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Vikings legend doubts Kirk Cousins will return in 2024

A Vikings legend doesn’t believe that Cousins will return to the team in 2024

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist Jared Allen doesn’t think quarterback Kirk Cousins will be back with the team in 2024. On an appearance on Up and Adams with Kay Adams, Allen was asked for his thoughts on what the Vikings do with Cousins next year after his Achilles injury.

Allen questioned whether or not you can commit that much money to him, and whether Cousins will be able to make a full recovery, stating it’s “a young man’s game” among other comments you can hear below.

Cousins, 35, is coming off a ruptured Achilles suffered in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. Much has been made about Cousins and his future in Minnesota, as he is scheduled to be a free agent after the season.

In his absence, the Vikings have had to turn to Josh Dobbs, who has struggled recently and may be on the verge of losing his starting job to Jaren Hall, who originally took over for Cousins before suffering a concussion early in Week 9 versus the Falcons.

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12 former Chiefs among modern-era nominees for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

12 former #Chiefs among modern-era nominees for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 | from: @EdEastonJr

The NFL announced the 173 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

There are 12 former Kansas City Chiefs in the running, including return specialist Dante Hall, fullback Tony Richardson, quarterback Rich Gannon, guard Brian Waters, and first-time nominee running back Jamaal Charles.

The list will be cut to 25 semifinalists in November and 15 finalists in early January.

Here’s a look at the former Chiefs up for the Hall of Fame in 2024:

8 former Panthers named Modern-Era nominees for 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

Panthers great Julius Peppers, who is in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, headlines the group of 173 Modern-Era nominees.

On Tuesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 173 Modern-Era nominees for their class of 2024. Among the group are eight former Carolina Panthers players—including some franchise greats and a few all-time greats.

Here are those men:

Rob Ninkovich working with Broncos’ OLBs at practice

In addition to Jared Allen, the Broncos also have Rob Ninkovich doing some work with their outside linebackers.

Jared Allen isn’t the only retired pass rusher serving as a part-time guest coach with the Denver Broncos this season.

Rob Ninkovich, who started his NFL career under Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints and later won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, was at a Broncos practice session earlier this week.

Payton was asked about Ninkovich after Wednesday’s practice and the coach confirmed that the former pass rusher was helping coach up Denver’s outside linebackers. Payton also expressed regret for cutting Ninkovich early in his career.

“I don’t know that I brought him here to remind us of a good player leaving the building,” Payton joked. “… We didn’t have a really good vision [for him in New Orleans]. What I mean by that is we were an even front team. I don’t know if the defensive coaches saw it the same as the scouts. It was a classic mistake that we didn’t really have a clean vision. … We released Rob. He went to Miami and came back to the Saints a year later.

“He always reminds me —  I had a meeting with him, and I told him I thought he was going to have to be a long snapper to play in this league. Then, the right team, New England  — I think [Bill] Belichick referenced this yesterday when he was talking to the media because it would’ve been this waiver wire. They had a vision. It was clearer than ours. He went on to play.

“He made an all-century team and won two Super Bowls as an outside linebacker. He came in just to spend some time with our OLBs and spend some time with [OLBs coach] Michael Wilhoite and defensive coaches. He’s done media. You hope that over sixty years, there’s only a couple of those, but he’s one that got away, and obviously played well afterwards.”

During his 11-year career in the NFL (including one season with the Saints), Ninkovich totaled 460 tackles (55 for losses), 88 quarterback hits, 46 sacks, 22 pass breakups, 14 fumble recoveries, 12 forced fumbles, five interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.

As a player, Ninkovich was one that got away for Payton. As a potential future coach prospect, perhaps Ninkovich will get his first opportunity under the coach that was the first to cut him in the NFL.

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Jared Allen serving as a ‘guest coach’ with the Broncos

Jared Allen is not an official member of Sean Payton’s staff, but he will serve as a “guest coach” with the Broncos several times this year.

Former NFL pass rusher Jared Allen attended a Denver Broncos training camp session earlier this week and coached up the team’s pass rushers.

After practice, Broncos coach Sean Payton said Allen will serve as a “guest coach” for parts of the 2023 season.

“He’s one of the guest coaches,” Payton said Wednesday. “He’s in for a few days throughout the season, helping us with pass rush. I told him he’s putting his toe in the water with coaching right now. He hasn’t jumped in the cold pool yet.”

Allen played for Minnesota Vikings from 2008-2013, overlapping with then-Vikings executive George Paton, who now serves as Denver’s general manager.

“We played against those guys a lot,” Payton said of facing Allen’s teams in the past. “Then over the years, I got to know him really well. His name came up in the offseason, and he was interested. We spoke a number of times. He came in during the spring. We’ll have him kind of on a schedule here.”

Allen played for the Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers during his 12-year career. He totaled 136 sacks in 187 games and he ranks 12th on the NFL’s all-time lack list.

Allen faced the Broncos nine times in his career. Allen’s teams went 3-6 on those contests and the defensive end totaled 2.5 sacks against Denver. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

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