The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed the 25 modern-era semifinalists to make the Class of 2021 on Tuesday afternoon. The list includes many legendary players, including defensive end Richard Seymore, wide receiver Torry Holt, and defensive back Ronde Barber.
Also on the list is former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen, who played with the Chiefs from 2004 to 2007 before being traded to Minnesota in exchange for 2008 draft picks that would later become all-pro running back Jamaal Charles and tackle Brandon Albert.
Allen was a fourth-round draft selection from Idaho State University and started right away on Kansas City’s defensive line in place for Vonnie Holiday, who was battling a series of lower-body injuries during the 2004 season.
In his rookie season, Allen played in 15 games, starting 10, and finished with 31 tackles (29 solo) and 9 sacks, becoming a household name from that point on.
His best career season as a Chief was in 2007, where he started all 14 games he played in and finished the year with 64 tackles (55 solo) and 15.5 sacks. In the four seasons, he spent in Kansas City, Allen had 230 tackles (200 solo), 43 sacks, 39 QB hits, 14 forced fumbles, and 8 fumble recoveries.
The following season, Allen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent the majority of his career and eventually became one of the greatest players to ever put on the purple and gold. In 2011, Allen set the Vikings record for sacks in a single season with 22.
At the end of his career with the Vikings, Allen would have two short stints with the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers before retiring at the end of the 2015 season.
In 12 NFL seasons (2004-2015), Allen played in a total of 187 games, starting 181, with 643 tackles (498 solo), 136 sacks, 228 QB hits, 31 forced fumbles, and 19 fumble recoveries.
Allen was voted to the Pro Bowl five times, was named a First-Time All-Pro four times, was the NFL’s sack leader in 2007 and 2011, and is regarded as one of the top 50 greatest Vikings players.
During the early 2000s and the teens, Jared Allen was highly regarded as one of the premier pass rushers of his era. Although he didn’t have much success during the postseason, he still puts up an interesting case to earn a gold jacket as a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
The full 25 semifinalists list can be found here:
Eric Allen, CB – 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders (Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2021).
Jared Allen, DE – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers (Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2021).
Willie Anderson, T – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens (Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2021).
Ronde Barber, CB/S – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Times as a semifinalist: 4 – 2018-2021).
Cornelius Bennett, LB – 1987-1995 Buffalo Bills, 1996-98 Atlanta Falcons, 1999-2000 Indianapolis Colts (Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2021).
Tony Boselli, T – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve) (Times as a semifinalist: 6 – 2016-2021).
LeRoy Butler, S – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2018-2021).
Alan Faneca, G – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals (Times as a semifinalist: 6 – 2016-2021).
Rodney Harrison, S – 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots (Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2021).
Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars (Times as a semifinalist: 7 – 2015-2021).
Calvin Johnson, WR – 2007-2015 Detroit Lions (Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2021).
John Lynch, FS – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos (Times as a semifinalist: 9 – 2013-2021).
Peyton Manning, QB – 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts (injured reserved 2011), 2012-15 Denver Broncos (Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2021).
Clay Matthews, LB – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons | (Times as a semifinalist: 5 – 2012, 2017, 2019-2021).
Sam Mills, LB – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers (Times as a semifinalist: 4 – 2016, 2019-2021).
Richard Seymour, DE/DT – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders (Times as a semifinalist: 4 – 2018-2021).
Steve Tasker, ST/WR – 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills (Times as a semifinalist: 8 – 2004, 2008-2010, 2012-13, 2020-21).
Fred Taylor, RB – 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots (Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2020-21).
Zach Thomas, LB – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys (Times as a semifinalist: 3 – 2019-2021).
Hines Ward, WR – 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers (Times as a semifinalist: 5 – 2017-2021).
Reggie Wayne, WR – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts (Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2020-21).
Patrick Willis, LB – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 – 2020-21).
Charles Woodson, CB/S – 1998-2005, 2013-15 Oakland Raiders, 2006-2012 Green Bay Packers (Times as a semifinalist: 1 – 2021).
Darren Woodson, S – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys (Times as a semifinalist: 5 – 2015, 2017, 2019-2021).
Bryant Young, DT – 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers (Times as a semifinalist: 2 – 2020-21).
