Eric Allen moves one step closer to ending outrageous Hall of Fame snub originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Could one of the most egregious Pro Football Hall of Fame snubs be on the verge of ending?
Eric Allen moved one step closer to finally getting the recognition he so richly deserves Tuesday when he was once again named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.
This is the fourth consecutive year Allen has been named one of 25 semifinalists for induction. He’s never been a finalist.
Allen, the Eagles’ 2nd-round pick in 1988, had 58 interceptions and nine touchdown returns in a brilliant 14-year career (including postseason). He has more interceptions than 22 of 37 defensive backs already in the Hall of Fame.
Only three Hall of Famers have more interception return touchdowns than Allen – Rod Woodson, Charles Woodson and Aeneas Williams.
Allen made a splash as a rookie with five interceptions for the 1988 NFC East champs and then added eight in 1989, 2nd-most in the NFL behind Browns safety Felix Wright and was named to his first of six Pro Bowl teams and 1st-team all-pro.
In the Eagles’ 1992 wild-card game in New Orleans – their first postseason win in 12 years – Allen capped a wild 26-0 fourth quarter with an 18-yard pick-6 off Bobby Hebert. That was the first INT return for a touchdown in Eagles postseason history.
In 1993, Allen had six interceptions and returned four of them for touchdowns. That was tied for the NFL record for a single season until this past weekend, when Cowboys DaRon Bland recorded his fifth.
After the 1994 season, Allen was the final Eagles star from the Buddy Ryan Era to leave via free agency during the great migration under former owner Norman Braman, and he finished his career with three seasons with the Saints and four with the Raiders.
Allen shares the Eagles franchise interception record of 34 with Bill Bradley and Brian Dawkins. His five INT touchdown returns with the Eagles are a club…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/eric-allen-moves-one-step-022653430.html
Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia
Publish date : 2023-11-29 02:26:53
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