Some things in this world feel like they need to happen in order for things to make sense. One of those things is for former Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Jared Allen to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Vikings sack machine has come very close to earning a gold jacket but has come up short four times after being named a finalist. Let's hope the fifth time is a charm for the players with the fourth-most sacks in Minnesota history.
Jared Allen named finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025
The Minnesota Star Tribune shared the news of Allen as a finalist on Saturday. Although he will once again face amazing competition to be part of this year's enshrinement class, Here is the list of the 15 Modern-Era finalists from the Pro Football Hall of Fame website.
Eric Allen, Cornerback
Jared Allen, Edge
Willie Anderson, Tackle
Jahri Evans, Guard
Antonio Gates, Tight End
Torry Holt, Wide Receiver
Luke Kuechly, Linebacker
Eli Manning, Quarterback
Steve Smith Sr., Wide Receiver
Terrell Suggs, Edge
Fred Taylor, Running Back
Adam Vinatieri, Kicker
Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver
Darren Woodson, Safety
Marshal Yanda, Offensive Line
Each player on that list deserves a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Five of those individuals are in their first year of eligibility for enshrinement and nine of them were finalists from the process last year.
There is no official set number of players who will receive enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, however four to eight of the people on this list who receive more than an 80 percent approval vote from the original slate of 167 nominees which was cut to 50, then to 25, and now to 15.
Why should Jared Allen be in the Hall of Fame?
A fourth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2004 NFL Draft, Jared Allen made an impact immediately. He had nine sacks in his rookie season and led the league with 15.5 sacks during his All-Pro season in 2007.
He came to Minnesota in a trade that sent a first-round pick, two third-round picks, and a pick swap in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The Vikings signed him to a massive six-year deal and put him to work on the defensive line.
In Minnesota, Allen earned All-Pro First Team honors three more times and made the Pro Bowl on four occasions. He nearly broke the NFL's record for most sacks in a single season in 2011 by earning 22 sacks.
In 2014, he left to play for the Chicago Bears and spent some time with the Carolina Panthers in 2015 before his retirement. But there is no question about the legacy that one of the most fun characters and effective pass rushers made on the NFL.