Age: 26
5th
season in pro football, 1st with Vikings
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. Still, he led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in ’07 and was a
consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl choice for the first time. The Chiefs
traded him to Minnesota in the offseason where he continued to excel while a
member of a stronger overall defensive line.
2008 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – 14.5 [5,
tied with Julius Peppers]
Most sacks,
game – 2.5 vs. Chicago 11/30
Multi-sack
games – 5
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Forced fumbles
– 3
Tackles – 41
Assists – 13
Scoring
Safeties – 2 [1, tied with Jameel McClain]
Points – 4
Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff vs.
Philadelphia)
Sacks – 2
Interceptions
– 0
Forced
fumbles – 1
TD – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP
Pro Bowl
Vikings went 10-6
to finish first in the NFC North while leading the NFL in fewest rushing yards
allowed (1230). Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to Philadelphia Eagles (26-14).
Aftermath:
Allen
recorded another 14.5 sacks and received All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors again in
2009. 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. Allen followed up with 12 sacks in 2012 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. A bout with pneumonia caused Allen
to lose 18 pounds, snapped a 113-game playing streak, and had him playing at
less than full-strength. The defense as a whole suffered through a disastrous
year and Allen’s sack total fell to 5.5. Through 11 seasons and 172 games,
Allen has been credited with 134 sacks, as well as five interceptions and 19
fumble recoveries. He has been a consensus first-team All-NFL honoree four
times in addition to the five Pro Bowl selections.
--
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
