The Vikings Gigantic Thursday Night Mystery

avatar   |  
Feb 9, 2023
A Minnesota Vikings helmet on the field at TCO Performance Center.
A Minnesota Vikings helmet rests on the turf at TCO Performance Center during organized team activities on Jun 11, 2019, in Eagan. Images like this are common during the early offseason as players prepare for camp and roster battles begin to take shape. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports.

On Thursday night, former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will learn his 2023 Hall of Fame fate. The NFL showcases its Honors Ceremony, and five men out of 15 finalists will officially enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

These are the 15 finalists:

  • Jared Allen
  • Willie Anderson
  • Ronde Barber
  • Dwight Freeney
  • Devin Hester
  • Torry Holt
  • Andre Johnson
  • Albert Lewis
  • Darrelle Revis
  • Joe Thomas
  • Zach Thomas
  • DeMarcus Ware
  • Reggie Wayne
  • Patrick Willis
  • Darren Woodson

The Pioneer Press Chris Tomasson tweeted Wednesday, “Regarding ex-Vikings DE Jared Allen up for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the 49-person selection voted last month on who will be elected. HOF candidates know if they made it or not but are obviously keeping quiet.”

The Vikings Gigantic Thursday Night Mystery

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1237711″ player=”26279″ title=”Christian%20Darrisaw%20Joins%20VikesNow” duration=”733″ description=”Christian Darrisaw joins to chat about the 2022 season and offers 2023 insights.” uploaddate=”2023-02-07″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/snapshot/1237711_th_1675794187.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/sd/1237711.mp4″ width=”16″ height=”9″]

So, like every year, there is suspense here. No outsiders have been tipped about the fateful fivesome, and only the inductees evidently know as of Thursday afternoon.

The Vikings Gigantic
Oct 30, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings Jared Allen (69) rides in on a horse before his induction into the Ring of Honor against the Arizona Cardinals at halftime at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Based on the numbers, Allen’s pass-rushing production should automate his entry into the Hall of Fame sooner than later. He shouldn’t be a “fringe” candidate, waiting on multiple lists for years to don a gold jacket. Bryant Young from the San Francisco 49ers, who got the call in 2022, retired in 2007. If Allen must follow in his footsteps – a godforsaken wait, indeed – he’d earn HOF credentialing in 2030 or so. That’s too far away.

Richard Seymour was inducted into last year’s class, riding his career total of 57.5 sacks and three 1st-Team All-Pro selections to football’s eternal club. Allen, who was denied entry during the 2022 cycle, tabulated 136 sacks and four 1st-Team All-Pro awards.

PurplePTSD: Jared Allen HOF Update, Playoff Picture, Schedule Flex?
Oct 30, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings Jared Allen (69) is inducted into the Ring of Honor against the Arizona Cardinals at halftime at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Allen, 40, was inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor on October 30th, and he showed up in style riding a horse because — of course, he did. While the ROH accolade was nifty, the Hall of Fame nod would dwarf the Vikings recognition.

During Allen’s playing career, 2004 to 2015, he led the NFL in sacks during that 12-season span. Plain and simple. In those twelve seasons, no man sacked the quarterback more. This stat alone – yes, there is more nuance to defense than sacks alone – should be the rubberstamp.

Jared Allen
Nov 19, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings former player Jared Allen shakes hands with Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker (6) before the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Allen ranks 16th in NFL history in sacks with 136 — more than Carl Eller, Rickey Jackson, Charley Haley, Andre Tippett, etc. All of those men are in the Hall of Fame. Allen has more sacks than them.

In his time with the Vikings from 2008 to 2013, Allen led the NFL in sacks with 85.5, quite the return on investment involving a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 2008 trade for Allen with the Chiefs is considered one of the best in Minnesota sports history.

Allen’s teammate, Kevin Williams, told the Pioneer Press about Allen’s HOF candidacy this week, “My fingers are crossed. Hopefully, the third time is a charm. I’m rooting for him. He deserves to be in. I didn’t figure it would take him a couple of tries to get in, but you never know what those voters are thinking.”

Allen has also taken up professional curling as of late.

The NFL Honors show will air live at 8 pm CST, February 9th, on NBC and will be streamed on Peacock and NFL Network. And for posterity, Allen receiving the gold jacket Thursday night is a true coinflip. There are no hints or clues either way if his Hall of Fame entry is a yes or no.

Allen played 96 games for the Vikings — more than Chuck Foreman (93), Pat Williams (93), Steve Hutchinson (89), and Daunte Culpepper (81), among others.

Also Read:The ESPN Recommendation on Kirk Cousins’ Future with the Vikings

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

avatar
By Dustin Baker
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His debut thriller, The Motor Route , is out now. He ... More about Dustin Baker