Congratulations are in order for Eric Allen; the 14-year NFL cornerback was enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday as part of its four-man Class of 2025. Along with former defensive end Jared Allen, tight end Antonio Gates, and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, Allen’s enshrined made for a celebratory occasion.
You can view Allen’s full 17-minute address here. He thanked many people in his enshrinement speech, but he singled out New Orleans Saints owners Tom and Gayle Benson for adding him to their team: “I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Benson for the opportunity to join the Saints and play in the great city in New Orleans. I truly appreciate you guys for giving me the opportunity to wear that jersey.”
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While he spent the first half of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, who picked him in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft out of Arizona State, Allen accomplished great things for several different teams. After putting himself on the map with five Pro Bowl appearances and several All-Pro nods in Philadelphia, Allen started all 48 games he played for the Saints from 1995 (when he was selected for his sixth, and final, Pro Bowl appearance) to 1997. He closed out his career with four years on the Oakland Raiders, retiring after the 2001 season.
Allen finished his career with 54 interceptions, returning 8 of them for touchdowns, as well as 6 forced fumbles and 7 fumble recoveries. He was credited with 787 combined tackles (730 of them solo stops), and he started 214 of his 217 games played in the regular season. Only two cornerbacks have more starts in NFL history: Ronde Barber (216) and the immortal Darrell Green (248). Now Allen has joined them at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Pro Football Hall of Fame inducts former Saints, Eagles CB Eric Allen