Could Tonight Be the Big Night for a Vikings Legend?
Jared Allen will learn his Hall of Fame fate on Thursday night.
Could Tonight Be the Big Night for a Vikings Legend?
The former Minnesota Vikings pass rusher is a Hall of Fame finalist for the fifth time, and the NFL will announce this year’s inductees.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Thursday morning, “The Pro Football Hall of Fame will announce its 2025 class tonight. The 50-person selection committee may select up to five Modern-Era players; each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80% for election. Five others — Seniors category Finalists Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer; along with Coach Finalist Mike Holmgren and Contributor Finalist Ralph Hay — also are candidates for the Class of 2025.”
These are the 15 finalists:
- CB Eric Allen
- DE Jared Allen
- OL Willie Anderson
- OL Jahri Evans
- TE Antonio Gates
- WR Torry Holt
- LB Luke Kuechly
- QB Eli Manning
- OLB Terrell Suggs
- WR Steve Smith Sr.
- RB Fred Taylor
- K Adam Vinatieri
- WR Reggie Wayne
- S Darren Woodson
- OL Marshal Yanda
Based on Allen’s performance in 12 NFL seasons, Allen should not be a fringe participant in the league’s most prestigious club. But he’ll learn his fate on Thursday night. Perhaps the fifth time is a charm.
The five-time Pro Bowler was elected into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2022, a small consolation prize compared to the Hall of Fame. Dwight Freeney, a Hall of Famer from last year’s class, was named an All-Pro thrice in his NFL career, while Allen fetched All-Pro recognition four times. Freeney, however, won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006, and Allen never won a ring. He and the Carolina Panthers were close in 2015, however, losing to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
Richard Seymour was inducted into the 2022 class, riding his career total of 57.5 sacks and three 1st-Team All-Pro selections to football’s eternal club. Allen, who has been denied repeatedly, tabulated 136 sacks and the aforementioned four 1st-Team All-Pro awards.
On sacks, Allen ranks 16th in NFL history 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. What gives? Too, 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 rubber stamp.
Allen told Kay Adams in January about the HOF process: “I think when you look at everybody I’m surrounded by, nobody did it better than me when I was playing. That’s facts. Nobody had more sacks than me in the 12 years that I played and some guys have multiple, multiple years on me. So, if I’m not good enough on my resume, then tell me that. Don’t let me in. Kick me off the list.”
“I control what I can control in life, and that’s not something I can control. I did my work, and I moved forward that way. So, yeah. I don’t know what the deal is. I don’t know how the game is played. I don’t really care to know. I’ve got my personal feelings and it is what it is,” he added.
Not for nothing, Thursday’s list might already be studded with too many “sure-fire” Hall of Famers for Allen to get in, creating the possibility of another snub.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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