Pass-rushing great Jared Allen confirmed this week that he’s riding off into the only somewhat proverbial sunset despite a Super Bowl 50 loss. But is the former Chief, Viking, Bear and Panther a Hall of Famer?
Let’s break it down.
In his favor…
- Allen retires as the league’s active sack leader and is tied for ninth on the all-time sack list with 136. Each of the seven HOF-eligible players ahead of him on that list have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
- He’s one of only 12 players with eight double-digit-sack seasons.
- He’s one of only four players ever to record 22 or more sacks in a season, having fallen just a half-sack short of Michael Strahan’s record of 22.5 in 2011.
The problem…
- Veterans Julius Peppers, DeMarcus Ware and John Abraham are within three sacks of him. All three should surpass him this season.
- He won just two playoff games and recorded four postseason sacks during his 12-year career, never winning a championship.
- Although he was generally considered to be a likable guy and a good teammate, Allen has been arrested for DUI three times.
My guess? Allen will eventually get in thanks to his numbers, but it won’t happen for many years.
