Age: 24 (Nov.
22)
2nd
season in pro football & with Eagles
College: Arizona
State
Height: 5’10” Weight: 188
Prelude:
An
outstanding cover cornerback in college, Allen intercepted a total of 15 passes
and was an All-Pac 10 selection in 1987. Having caught the eye of
Philadelphia’s Head Coach Buddy Ryan, the Eagles traded up nine spots in the
second round to draft him in ’88 and he moved directly into the starting lineup
as a rookie. Allen intercepted five passes for a team that ranked second in the
NFL with 32.
1989 Season Summary
Appeared in 15
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 8 [2, tied with David Fulcher, 1st in NFC]
Most
interceptions, game – 1 on eight occasions
Int. return
yards – 38
Most int.
return yards, game – 18 (on 1 int.) at San Diego 11/5
Int. TDs – 0
Sacks – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Forced
fumbles – 0
Tackles – 48
Missed
playoff game due to injury
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, Pro Football Weekly
2nd
team All-NFL: NEA
1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Eagles went 11-5
to finish second in the NFC East and qualify for the playoffs as a Wild Card
entry while leading the NFL in interceptions (30) and placing second in sacks
(62). Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to Los Angeles Rams (21-7).
Aftermath:
Allen spent
another five seasons with the Eagles, and was selected to the Pro Bowl after
four of them. He was part of a defensive unit in 1991 that was best overall and
against the run and the pass individually. In ’93 he intercepted six passes and
returned them for a league-leading 201 yards and four touchdowns, which
highlighted his ability to make big plays as well as provide excellent coverage.
He followed the exodus of defensive stars out of Philadelphia, signing with New
Orleans as a free agent in 1995 and achieving one last Pro Bowl selection. With
his skills declining, he got by on savvy and played two more years with the
Saints before moving on to the Oakland Raiders in 1998. Allen missed time with
a knee injury but also had six interceptions in 2000, returning three of them
for touchdowns. He retired following the 2001 season, having intercepted 54
passes that he returned for 826 yards and 8 TDs. 34 of those pickoffs, for 482
yards and 5 scores, came with the Eagles, making him one of the franchise’s
career co-leaders in interceptions. Allen received consensus first-team All-NFL
honors once and was an All-NFC choice on two other occasions, achieving selection to the Pro
Bowl six times.
--
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
