People into football have heard of Eric Allen.
And for those that haven’t, be it known that Allen played football under the legendary coach Bennie Edens at Point Loma High School in the early 1980s, and was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Finally. Because for him, it’s been a long wait.
For Eagles fans, Allen is the first cornerback in Eagles history to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was announced as part of the Class of 2025 on Thursday night last week at the NFL Honors awards ceremony in New Orleans.
“I’m super excited,” Allen told Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro on by phone. “I’m very humbled. My wife and I (Lynn) used to dream in high school about playing in the NFL and to now be in the position, I mean, it’s indescribable. It’s very emotional and it’s overwhelming. I want to say ‘thank you’ to so many people who helped me get to this point.
“All of those Eagles who helped me … amazing group. Reggie White and (his wife) Sara took me under their wing when I got there. They taught me how to be a pro. I wish I could share this with him and Andre (Waters), Todd (Bell), Jerome (Brown), I wish they could be here with me. They made me.”
Eric Andre Allen was born November 22, 1965, in San Diego. After playing at PLHS under Bennie Edens, Allen became a cornerback out of Arizona State University. Here’s a sweep of his life:
Eric Allen was chosen with the 30th overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. His career spanned 14 seasons, which included 217 games for the Eagles (1988-1994), New Orleans Saints (1995-97) and Oakland Raiders (1998- 2001).
With five interceptions as a rookie, Allen’s impact was felt immediately, earning him a spot on the 1988 PFWA All-Rookie Team.
His best statistical season came in his second year in Philadelphia, when he totaled eight interceptions, a career high. Allen earned first-team All-Pro honors and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl.
Allen led his team in total interceptions seven times, four seasons in Philadelphia and three in Oakland.
His four interceptions returned for a touchdown in 1993 were tied for the most in NFL history at the time of his retirement in 2001. United Press International (UPI) named Allen the Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 after he led the league in total interception yards and touchdowns.
After being traded to the Raiders in 1998, he helped the franchise win the AFC West in back-to-back seasons, which had not been done since the early 1980s.
His eight career interception returns for touchdowns were tied for third most in league history after his final season.
A six-time Pro Bowler (1989, 1991-95), Allen also earned second-team All-Pro honors twice (1989, 1993). For his career, he played in 217 regular-season games (214 starts) and nine playoff games, recording four interceptions — one of them a pick-six — in the postseason.
His career totals include 54 interceptions for 826 yards and eight scores.
Allen was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame in 2011 and named to their 75th Anniversary Team in 2007.
Here’s even more:
Originally selected by the Eagles in the second round (30th overall) in the 1988 NFL Draft out of Arizona State, Allen was a six-time Pro Bowl selection (five with the Eagles, tied for most by a cornerback in team history), a three-time All-Pro, and a member of the Eagles’ 75th Anniversary Team and Hall of Fame. The UPI chose Allen as its NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 when he tied the then-NFL record with four touchdowns off interceptions.
Allen shares the Eagles’ all-time record for most interceptions with 34, finishing with 54 for his entire career, which included seven seasons in Philadelphia, three in New Orleans, and four with the Raiders in Oakland. Reliable and durable, Allen missed just one game in those seven seasons with the Eagles.
His 54 interceptions are tied for 21st in NFL history. Once he had the ball in his hands, Allen was a scoring machine with eight career pick-sixes, tied for eighth in NFL history. He added another four interceptions in the playoffs, with a touchdown.
Allen was a part of the legendary Gang Green defense that led the NFL in total yards, rushing yards, and passing yards allowed in 1991 – a rare triple crown that has not been accomplished since. The Eagles also led the league in sacks and takeaways that year. Five members of that defense, including Allen, went to the Pro Bowl with Brown, Seth Joyner, Clyde Simmons, and White. All five of them are also in the Eagles Hall of Fame.
“I feel like I was a complete cornerback,” Allen said. “I traveled with the best of the best receivers in the game – left side, right side, everything. I think there are 13 or 14 receivers I played against who are in the Hall of Fame.”
Allen is now there as well.
It is fitting that New Orleans was the site of Allen’s Hall of Fame announcement. On January 3, 1993, Allen sparked one of the greatest playoff comebacks in team history when he intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown in a 36-20 victory over the Saints.
Sure, the game didn’t seem close, but the Eagles trailed 20-7 in the third quarter until Allen’s first interception sparked the turnaround as Philadelphia scored the game’s final 29 points, with Allen’s 18-yard touchdown return the exclamation point with just over two minutes left in the game.
Against New Orleans once again, in a game at Veterans Stadium the following season, Allen scored not one, but two pick-sixes to tie the NFL single-game record as Philadelphia defeated New Orleans 37-26.
2025 was a critical year for Allen’s Hall of Fame candidacy. Players are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame five years after they retire and then have only 20 years to be a modern-era selection before entering what is called the Seniors Category, which is determined by a separate vote.
This was Allen’s 19th year on the ballot.
But the wait is over. And the last time an Eagles defensive back was selected for induction (Brian Dawkins in 2018), it came on the eve of the franchise’s first Super Bowl Championship. Could the second be just days away?
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