Highlighted Year: Jared Allen, 2007

Defensive End, Kansas City Chiefs

Age:  25

4^th season in pro football & with Chiefs

College: Idaho State

Height: 6’6”   Weight: 270

Prelude:

Chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft, Allen was initially viewed as strictly a situational player who would add depth on the defensive line, but surprised by leading the team in sacks as a rookie with 9. Intense, tenacious, and with good instincts, he followed up with 11 sacks in ’05 and improved his play against the run. Allen led the league in fumble recoveries in 2006 with 6, although his sacks fell to 7.5, and there was friction with the front office as well as a suspension from the league for a second DUI offense heading into 2007.

2007 Season Summary

Appeared in 14 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 15.5 [1]

Most sacks, game – 2.5 vs. Cincinnati 10/14

Multi-sack games – 6

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 3

Tackles – 55

Assists – 9

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 2        

Yards – 3

Average gain – 1.5

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 2

Points – 12

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Chiefs went 4-12 to finish third in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

The Chiefs traded Allen to Minnesota in the offseason where he continued to excel as a member of a stronger overall defensive line. He received All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors in 2008 and ’09 while recording 14.5 sacks each year. 2010 was a down year for the franchise as a whole, and Allen had a comparative off-year, although he still led the team with 11 sacks, his fourth consecutive season in double figures. He bounced back strongly with a 22-sack season in 2011 and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Sporting News as well as receiving consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition. He followed up with 12 sacks in ‘12 and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time. He registered 11.5 sacks in 2013 and signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent for 2014. In ten seasons and 157 games through 2013, Allen was credited with 128.5 sacks, as well as five interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries. He has been a consensus first-team All-NFL honoree four times in addition to the five Pro Bowl selections.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970