Former Arizona State Star Inducted into NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame
Former Arizona State Sun Devil and six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Eric Allen was among four inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2025 on Thursday evening.
Allen was joined by former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, legendary tight end Antonio Gates, and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe – who alongside his brother Shannon become the first set of brothers to be enshrined, likely beating Peyton and Eli Manning by just one year.
Allen starred with the Sun Devils in the Pac-10 from 1984-1987, totaling eight interceptions and leading the country with 185 yards and two touchdowns off those interceptions.
That led to him getting selected in the second round, No. 30 overall, by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1988, and he instantly became a sensation in Philly, earning his first of six Pro Bowl nods and only First Team All-Pro nomination in his second season in 1989.
Allen want on to rack up 54 career interceptions with 826 yards and eight touchdowns – leading the NFL in pick sixes in both 1993 and again in 2000 as a 35-year-old with the Oakland Raiders.
Allen ranks in the top 25 in NFL history in interception return yards (25th), non-offensive touchdowns (23rd) interceptions (21st) and interceptions returned for a touchdown (8th) and was named the UPI Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.
Allen becomes the fifth former Sun Devil inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player, joining OL Randall McDaniel, defensive back Mike Haynes, wide receiver Charley Taylor, and defensive tackle Curley Culp.
