Minnesota Vikings legend Jared Allen was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. The four-time All-Pro was the first member of the 2025 class to speak, and he delivered a speech that fans won’t forget for a long time.
Allen began his speech by talking about the three “whys” that helped him become a successful NFL defensive end.
“There’s a million what’s in this world, but the why is what makes you different,” Allen said. “The why is your long game. It’s what drives you to get up and take whatever steps necessary to achieve your goal.
“So my why can be summed up with three things: fear, respect, and the pursuit of greatness. And when I talk about fear, I’m not talking about that type of fear that cripples you and makes you avoid something. I’m talking about that healthy fear of failure. That fear that motivates you to do whatever you can to succeed. That type of fear that lets you get knocked down and then realize you don’t want to get knocked down again, so you pick yourself up, you learn, and you improve.”
He thanked each of the four NFL organizations he played for, taking a couple of jabs at the Chicago Bears, who he played for in 2014.
“The Bears…. Eh, well….”
Allen then thanked the Bears organization after his playful jab, specifically team president Kevin Warren, who served in the Vikings’ front office when Allen played in Minnesota.
“I wish you all the best when you guys play, except for [when you play] the Vikings.”
But what stole the show was when Allen spoke to his wife and two daughters to cap the speech off.
“There’s only two types of people: there’s boat anchors, who drag you down, and there’s people who elevate you. And you are a true game elevator,” Allen said to his wife, Amy. “You’re one of the smartest people I know. I am in awe of you every single day. And I love you more than life itself.”
He then turned his attention to his two daughters to finish the speech.
“To my amazing daughters, Brinley and Laylan. Through this process, the word legacy has been talked about a lot,” Allen said. “The hall often says they’re here to tell my story. Well, I’m here to tell you two that you are my greatest accomplishments. When I get called home to Heaven one day, if all they talk about is this gold jacket, my career, then I’ve failed miserably as a father, a husband, and a friend.
You two are my legacy. You are both so talented. And I cannot wait to see what you decide to do to conquer this world. So always put Christ first. Find your why. Dream big dreams. And always pursue greatness in whatever you do.”
It was a memorable 15-minute speech spoken from the heart and with the authenticity fans grew accustomed to with Allen. But more importantly, it was a “thank you” to those closest to him in his life, and he made sure that they recognized they were as big a part of the moment as he was.