Eric Allen

For other people named Eric Allen, see Eric Allen (disambiguation).

Eric Allen
refer to caption
Allen in 2018
No. 21
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1965-11-22) November 22, 1965 (age 59)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Point Loma
(San Diego, California)
College:Arizona State
NFL draft:1988 / round: 2 / pick: 30
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:787
Interceptions:54
Interception yards:826
Pass deflections:40
Forced fumbles:5
Fumble recoveries:7
Sacks:3
Defensive touchdowns:9
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Eric Andre Allen (born November 22, 1965) is an American former football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, and Oakland Raiders from 1988 to 2001. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Allen retired after the 2001 season and is currently an NFL analyst for Pac-12 Networks. In his NFL career, he recorded 54 interceptions for 826 yards and eight touchdowns, while also recovering seven fumbles. His 54 interceptions is tied for 21st in NFL history.[1]

In 2019, he served as the defensive backs coach for the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).[2][3]

Early life

Allen played high school football at Point Loma High School under legendary coach Bennie Edens.

College career

Allen played college football at Arizona State University.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+3⁄4 in
(1.77 m) 		181 lb
(82 kg) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.46 s 1.58 s 2.62 s 4.19 s 30.5 in
(0.77 m)		 9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		 14 reps

Allen was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft.[4]

Allen played seven seasons for the Eagles, three seasons for the New Orleans Saints, and four seasons for the Oakland Raiders. While with the Eagles he was a very popular player with the "Gang Green" Defense, playing with NFL greats Reggie White, Seth Joyner, Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Andre Waters, Byron Evans, Mike Pitts, and Wes Hopkins. He is the only NFL player to run back three or more interceptions for scores in two separate seasons.

One of Allen's most memorable plays occurred October 3, 1993, in a game against the New York Jets. Having lost their starting quarterback (Randall Cunningham) to a fractured fibula early in the contest, the Eagles found themselves trailing the Jets by two points late in the 4th quarter as the Jets drove downfield for what would likely be the game's final points. Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason attempted to throw for a first down inside the Eagles 10-yard line as Allen stepped in front of the intended receiver at the 6-yard line.[5] The ensuing 94-yard touchdown return was declared "Greatest Interception Return in NFL History" by Steve Sabol of NFL Films.

After several successful and injury-free seasons at Philadelphia and New Orleans, Allen blew out his knee during the 1998 season on November 15 while playing for the Oakland Raiders against the Seattle Seahawks and missed the rest of that season. But he came back strong in 2000 and had a season to remember, with six interceptions, including a team-record three for touchdowns. His teammates honored him with the first annual Eric Turner award for the Raiders' most outstanding defensive player. The award was created in the memory of the Oakland free safety who died of abdominal cancer in May 2000.

Through the 2001 season, Allen played in 216 of a possible 224 games.

In 2009, Allen also was inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.[6]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF FR
1988 PHI 16 16 65 — — 0.0 5 76 15.2 21 0 — 0 0
1989 PHI 15 15 48 — — 0.0 8 38 4.8 18 0 — 0 0
1990 PHI 16 15 63 — — 0.0 3 37 12.3 35 1 — 0 0
1991 PHI 16 16 39 — — 0.0 5 20 4.0 8 0 — 0 1
1992 PHI 16 16 72 — — 0.0 4 49 12.2 36 0 — 0 2
1993 PHI 16 16 64 52 6 2.0 6 201 33.5 94 4 17 3 0
1994 PHI 16 16 57 46 11 0.0 3 61 20.3 33 0 14 0 1
1995 NO 16 16 59 44 14 0.0 2 28 14.0 28 0 6 0 0
1996 NO 16 16 51 48 3 0.0 1 33 33.0 33 0 19 0 0
1997 NO 16 16 50 45 5 0.0 2 27 13.5 27 0 8 0 0
1998 OAK 10 10 35 33 2 0.0 5 59 11.8 22 0 17 0 0
1999 OAK 16 16 61 52 9 0.0 3 33 11.0 31 0 16 0 1
2000 OAK 16 15 68 62 6 1.0 6 145 24.2 50 3 14 0 0
2001 OAK 15 14 55 49 6 0.0 1 19 19.0 19 0 9 2 1
Career 216 213 787 431 62 3.0 54 826 16.3 94 8 120 5 6

Television career

Allen joined ESPN in August 2002 as an NFL studio analyst. Allen primarily appears on ESPN's "Sportscenter" as an NFL analyst.

Allen has had appearances as a college football analyst on the Pac-12 Networks football shows, as well as for the station's flagship show "Sports Report" as a football analyst.

Coaching career

On December 19, 2018, Allen was named defensive backs coach for the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football.[7]

Personal life

He now lives in San Diego, California with his wife Lynn Allen, with whom he has four children.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "NFL Interceptions Career Leaders (Since 1940)". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "Cornerbacks are the Story at No. 21 with Eric Allen at the Top". Philadelphia Eagles On SI. August 23, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Philadelphia Eagles: Eric Allen got snubbed by the Hall of Fame". Section 215. December 31, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  4. ^ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Today in Philly Sports History: Eric Allen's "Greatest Interception Return in NFL History," 1993". NBC Sports Philadelphia. December 3, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum » Eric Allen". Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  7. ^ "Wednesday's Sports Transactions". The Brunswick News. Associated Press. December 19, 2018. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019. SAN DIEGO FLEET — Named Eric Allen defensive backs coach and LaMont Jordan running backs coach.