Eric Allen, the greatest defensive back in Philadelphia Eagles history, has finally been elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in his 19th year of eligibility.
Eric ended his storied 14-year career with 54 interceptions (21st in NFL history), totaling 827 yards, with eight returned for a touchdown. He also recovered seven fumbles, one for a TD, for an impressive nine defensive touchdowns. He was durable and reliable, missing just ONE game during his 7 years (playing in 110 of 111)with the Eagles and played 217 during his career. He also earned the respect of his peers and many awards during his career.
Allen was already in the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and a member of their 75th Anniversary Team and is now recognized as one of the greatest 1% to have played in the NFL.
The man who bookended his playoff career with two of the oddest and most memorable postseason games in NFL history, The Fog Bowl with the Eagles and the Tuck Rule game with the Raiders, began his HOF career in the City of Brotherly Love.
Eagles:
Eric was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1988, being selected in the second round (30th overall). He played his college ball at Arizona State, where he had 15 career interceptions, earning First Team All Pac-10 honors and receiving an Honorable Mention All-American from the Associated Press.
Allen had five interceptions as a rookie with the Birds and eight in his second year, the first of his 6 Pro Bowl seasons and his first All-Pro. During his first 7 seasons with the Eagles, Eric had 34 interceptions in 110 games. He averaged a turnover every three games and shares the all-time Eagles franchise lead with Bill Bradley and Brian Dawkins for most career interceptions.
Eric also had a flair for the dramatic and was a human highlight reel. He showed up when it mattered the most, recording four postseason interceptions. (one returned for a TD against the Saints in 1993 while with the Eagles).
His most memorable return was in 1994. NFL Films Steve Sabol stated that Allen’s 94-yard interception for a touchdown against the Jets (thrown by Boomer Esiason) was the greatest interception return in NFL history. If you haven’t seen it, take a moment to marvel at that.
Eric played on some of the best defenses with a few of the greatest players in franchise history: Reggie White, Jerome Brown, Seth Joyner, and Clyde Simmons, to name a few. All five of them are in the Eagles Hall of Fame. He described his love for playing in Philadelphia and the importance of being on the field. (Via PhiladelphiaEagles.com)
“We had a connection to the city. They believed that their love for the Eagles showed on the defensive side of the ball, that commitment to playing defense, to being tough, to being rugged, to being able to overcome obstacles. It was letting the fan base know that our defense was not going to come to the ballpark and have any excuses. We still need to play at a high level. They held you accountable. They wanted to see 21 on that football field making plays. That’s what they bought those tickets for, so I didn’t want to let them down.”
New Orleans and Oakland:
After he left the Eagles, Eric Allen went to New Orleans for 3 seasons, where he added five more interceptions before heading west to Oakland.
At age 33, he signed with the Raiders where he spent the last 4 seasons of his career. Most cornerbacks are out of the game or hanging on by a thread by then, but not Eric.
He added another 15 interceptions during this time, including 3 more for TDs in 2000, and ended his storied career on his terms while still being highly productive. He gained the respect of some of the greatest players in the game, including his then-teammate, NFL HOFer Charles Woodson. (Via Raiders.com)
“In my third year in Oakland, Eric intercepted six passes. Three of them were Pick-6s. He was 35 years old at the time. At that age, you might not have the speed or the natural skills that you had when you were 23–24 years old. But the great players gain knowledge and experience over the years and use that to their advantage later in their careers.”
Allen retired after the 2001 season with one of the best careers by a defensive back in NFL history.
Accolades:
If availability is the best ability, then he aced that test. Eric only missed one game during his 7 years with the Eagles, starting in 110 of 111, and played 217 out of a possible 224.
PFWA All-Rookie Team (1988)
First-team All-Pro (1989)
2× Second-team All-Pro (1991,1993)
6× Pro Bowl (1989, 1991–1995)
1993 NFC Defensive Player of the Year
Tied for most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a season: 4
12th in NFL total Defensive TDs
13th most games played by a DB
25th most tackles in NFL history for a DB
54 regular season interceptions
9 Defensive touchdowns (8 Ints, 1 FR)
In the history of the NFL, only six players have 50 or more ints and returned 8 for a TD
Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Aeneas Williams, Charles Woodson, Darren Sharper and Eric.
Alle also added four interceptions in the playoffs, with another touchdown.
His 58 regular and postseason combined interception total is 8th most in NFL history.
Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team
Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame
NFL Hall of Fame:
Thursday, February 6, 2025, will be a day Eric Allen and his family remember fondly forever.
It is fitting that Eric will be added to the HOF the same year that the Eagles are in the Super Bowl in New Orleans, a site and stadium where Eric had postseason success for the Birds. Thirty-two years ago, on January 3rd, 1993, Allen intercepted two passes in the Super Dome and took one back for a touchdown, which sparked an improbable comeback Wild Card win.
Another perfect week, like the one in February 2018, when Brian Dawkins was announced that he would be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame days before the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 52, could be on the horizon again.
Allen will be officially enshrined on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025.
Go Birds!
As always, Thank You for reading
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