 Allen at aToronto Argonauts game in 2023 | |||||||||
| No. 9 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1963-07-29)July 29, 1963 (age 62) San Diego, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Lincoln (San Diego, California) | ||||||||
| College | Cal State Fullerton | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| 1985–1988 | Edmonton Eskimos | ||||||||
| 1989–1991 | Ottawa Rough Riders | ||||||||
| 1992 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | ||||||||
| 1993–1994 | Edmonton Eskimos | ||||||||
| 1995 | Memphis Mad Dogs | ||||||||
| 1996–2002 | BC Lions | ||||||||
| 2003–2007 | Toronto Argonauts | ||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career CFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |||||||||
Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2012) | |||||||||
Damon L. Allen (born July 29, 1963) is an American former professionalfootballquarterback. He played 23 years in theCanadian Football League (CFL). He is currently fourth inall-time professional football passing yards and second inall-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by theMontreal Alouettes'Anthony Calvillo on October 10, 2011.[1] Allen retired as professional football's all-time leading passer with 72,381 passing yards after he surpassedWarren Moon's total of 70,553 yards (in both the CFL andNFL combined) on September 4, 2006, in the annualLabour Day Classic.[2][3] He also retired in third place inall-time CFL rushing yards with 11,920 yards, behindMike Pringle andGeorge Reed. The2007 season marked Allen's twenty-third season in the CFL and he officially announced his retirement on May 28, 2008, at age 44. Allen is the younger brother ofPro Football Hall of FamerMarcus Allen.
Allen has been mentioned as one of the greatest CFL quarterbacks of all time. He won fourGrey Cups with three different teams, and was thegame's most valuable player three times. In 2005, he won theCFL's Most Outstanding Player Award at 42 years old, becoming the second-oldest player in North American professional sports history to be named a league’smost valuable player (afterice hockey’sGordie Howe, who was selected most valuable player of theWorld Hockey Association in 1974 at age 46). He was a formidable passer and rusher, as he retired only 323 rushing yards behind his brother Marcus. In 2012, he was elected into theCanadian Football Hall of Fame.
In May 2010, Allen launched the Damon Allen Quarterback Academy, in which he personally teaches the skills and strategies of quarterbacking to students of all ages and skill levels.[4]
In 2018, Allen was awarded theOrder of Sport, marking his induction intoCanada's Sports Hall of Fame.[5]
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Allen started playing football by the age of six for Valencia Park'sPop Warner inSan Diego. Allen played safety on defense. In the Junior Peewee league, in his first year as a quarterback, Allen's team won the championships. This was followed by two undefeated seasons, and winning the Junior Peewee league title for three consecutive seasons.
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In high school, Allen was a fine two sport athlete. In football he was the starting quarterback atLincoln High School. He had a 22–2 record as starting quarterback at Lincoln High. Allen was a first team all-CIF player and Tribune Athlete of the Year. He led his team to consecutive 2A Division CIF Football Championships. In baseball, Allen was a pitcher with a record of 14–2, and his Lincoln High baseball team was rated #1 in San Diego County with a record of 24–4. He was a First team All-CIF Utility Man which also made him Tribune Athlete of the Year in his senior year.
Damon went on to playcollege football forCalifornia State University, Fullerton. There, Allen led theTitans to twoPacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) championships. He also broke a 26-year-oldNCAA record throwing only three passes that were intercepted, in over 300 attempts[6] and broke seven school records. He was a first team PCAA quarterback, and was named theUPI All West Coast team quarterback along withUNLV'sRandall Cunningham.
Allen was sixteenth in overall voting for the 1984Heisman Trophy. He also played in theSenior Bowl college All-Star game (completing 6 for 8 passes for 50 yards, 1 touchdown, and rushing for 20 yards on 3 carries).
Allen was not only an outstanding football player, he was also a superior baseball player. He helped hisTitans' baseball team win the 1984College World Series, leading his team to a regular season record of 66–20 as a pitcher. He was drafted by theDetroit Tigers in the1984 Major League Baseball Draft in the seventh round,[7] the same year the Tigers won the1984 World Series. Allen never signed a professional, major league baseball contract with the Tigers, but did sign one with thePittsburgh Pirates in 1993. Allen reported to the Pirates' spring training camp in 1994, but ultimately left their camp and decided to play in the Canadian Football League.
Cal State Fullerton Titans | |||||||||||
| Season | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comp | Att | Yards | TD | Int | Att | Yards | TD | ||||
| 1981 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 0 | |||
| 1982 | 40 | 90 | 435 | 3 | 5 | 34 | 81 | 0 | |||
| 1983 | 103 | 200 | 1297 | 4 | 3 | 118 | 126 | 5 | |||
| 1984 | 178 | 330 | 2469 | 20 | 3 | 106 | 220 | 5 | |||
| NCAA career totals | 322 | 629 | 4218 | 27 | 11 | 269 | 435 | 10 | |||
Allen joined the CFL as a free-agent in1985, signed by theEdmonton Eskimos, and threw for 661 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season as a back-up toMatt Dunigan. In the1987 season, Allen played in theGrey Cup championship game, replacing the injured starter Dunigan, and led the Eskimos to a Grey Cup victory, defeating the Toronto Argonauts 38–36, at Vancouver's BC Place Stadium. His first Grey Cup win, Allen earnedGrey Cup Most Valuable Player honours in the championship.
In1989, Allen signed with theOttawa Rough Riders. Ottawa missed the playoffs with a 4–14 record.
In1990, Allen set single season career highs in passing yards (3,883) and touchdowns (34), and rushing yards (776) and touchdowns (7). His contributions helped Ottawa make the playoffs for the first time since the1985 season. Ottawa lost the East Semi-Final to the host Toronto Argonauts.
In1991, Allen once again set single season career highs in passing yards (4,275), and rushing yards (1,036) and touchdowns (8). He was named anEastern Division All-Star for the first time in his CFL career, and helped Ottawa make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Ottawa lost the East Semi-Final to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In1992, Allen signed with theHamilton Tiger-Cats. In 18 games, Allen threw for 3,858 and 19 touchdowns, and rushed for 850 yards and 7 touchdowns, in his only season in "Steeltown."
Prior to the1993 season, Allen was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos, his second stint with the team. That year, Allen was the winner of theEddie James Memorial Trophy, awarded to the leading rusher in the West Division, after he gained 920 yards. His yardage total was second in the league only to Winnipeg running backMichael Richardson's 925 yards. Edmonton finished second in the West, defeated Saskatchewan in the West Semi-Final, and defeated Calgary in the West Final. In the West Final, Allen threw 4 touchdown passes in a blizzard. Allen helped the Eskimos to victory in theGrey Cup game, winning his second title, and was namedGrey Cup Most Valuable Player in a 33–23 win over theWinnipeg Blue Bombers.
In1994, Allen led the Esks to theWestern Division Semi-Finals, only to lose to theBC Lions.
In1995, Allen signed as a free-agent with theMemphis Mad Dogs. He appeared in 15 games with the CFL expansion team, and threw for 3,211 yards and 11 touchdowns on 228 of 390 passing. Allen also rushed for 427 yards in his only professional season in the United States.
In1996, Allen joined theBC Lions.
In1999, BC finished with a league-best 13–5 record. Allen threw for 4,219 yards on 315 of 521 passing with 22 touchdowns, ran the ball 136 times for 785 yards and 8 touchdowns, and threw for more than 300 yards on five occasions. Allen was voted to the CFL's West Division All-Star team. BC hosted Calgary in the West Final. Late in the game, BC trailed by 2 points when Allen fumbled. Calgary recovered, ran out the clock, and advanced to the Grey Cup in BC's stadium.
In2000, Allen became the CFL's all-time leading passer on October 28 againstHamilton, throwing for 345 yards to surpassRon Lancaster's previousrecord of 50,535 yards. Allen completed 324 of 525 passes (61.7%) to lead the CFL with a career-high 4,840 passing yards. Allen was nominated as the Lions' Most Outstanding Player at the CFL Player Awards. BC defeated Edmonton in the West Semi-Final, and played Calgary in the West Final. BC returned the favour from the year prior by defeating the first-place Stampeders in the West Final when Calgary was hosting the Grey Cup. Allen captured his firstGrey Cup with the Lions (third of his career) throwing for 234 yards in a win over theMontreal Alouettes.
In2003, after the acquisition ofDave Dickenson as their new quarterback, the 39-year-old Allen was traded from the BC Lions to theToronto Argonauts for a second-round draft pick in the2004 CFL draft, and a third-round pick in the2005 CFL draft. Allen's Argonaut re-debut was a 20–18 season- opening loss to theSaskatchewan Roughriders that also marked Allen's 300th regular season game of his CFL career. In Week 7, Allen became only the third quarterback in professional football history to pass for 60,000 yards against his former club, the BC Lions. In a Week 17 loss to theOttawa Renegades, Allen completed 20 of 39 pass attempts for 203 yards, with 2 interceptions and 1 touchdown, giving Allen 334 career touchdown passes, and surpassing Ron Lancaster for the most career touchdown passes in CFL history. Allen would lead the Argos to the Eastern Division Final that year as well.
In Week 9 of the2004 season versusMontreal, Allen exited the game in the third quarter with a fractured left tibia, and spent Weeks 10–16 on the injured reserve roster. There was considerable concern that Allen, at 41 years of age, would never come back from such a severe injury, but he did. In Week 17, Allen dressed as the third quarterback (behindMichael Bishop andRomaro Miller) for a game against the BC Lions. In Week 18, Allen dressed as the backup quarterback behind Michael Bishop and entered the game versus theCalgary Stampeders at the end of the second quarter. Allen completed his first thirteen pass attempts, making him the second quarterback in Argonaut history (Mike Rae, 17 of 17 versus Montreal, August 12, 1975) to complete more than 12 passes consecutively in a game. Allen finished the game with 18 of 23 pass completions, and his 82.6% completion percentage ranks fourth in Argo history for a single game.
In the2004 Grey Cup Championship against the BC Lions, Allen was namedGrey Cup Most Valuable Player for third time in his legendary career. Allen led the Argos to their fifteenth Grey Cup Championship and won his fourth championship. Allen finished the game with 23 of 34 pass completions for 299 yards (longest gain, 34 yards) and 1 touchdown pass, and rushed 5 times for 10 yards (longest gain, 5 yards) and 2 rushing touchdowns.
Allen continued his assault on the record books during the2005 CFL season. On October 27, 2005, Damon reached the 5,000-yard passing plateau for the first time in his 21-year CFL career by posting a 34–11 victory against theHamilton Tiger-Cats. The win guaranteed Toronto a first-place finish in the CFL East plus home field advantage in the playoffs. The game took place before 40,085 fans; the largest crowd for a CFL game in Toronto since 1992. However, the Argonauts were defeated 33–17 in the 2005 East Final by theMontreal Alouettes, thereby thwarting their hopes of repeating their 2004 Grey Cup win.
In 2005, Allen won his firstCFL's Outstanding Player Award. In that year, he also hosted the inaugural "Damon Allen Quarterback Challenge" which featured top CFL quarterbacks participating in various skill competitions. In the Quarterback Challenge's second year, Allen won the event.
In2006, Allen started the opening home game of the season against theHamilton Tiger-Cats and broke the middle finger on his right hand on Toronto's third play. Allen was injured trying to break his fall after taking a late hit from Hamilton safetyWayne Shaw, who was penalized on the play. Allen missed nearly a month and a half of action with a broken finger, returning on July 29 vs. theBC Lions.
On September 4,2006, at theLabour Day Classic against theHamilton Tiger-Cats, Allen broke Warren Moon's record (70,553 yards) to become professional football's all-time passing leader. The record-setting completion, a 29-yard shovel pass to wide receiverArland Bruce III, took place at 5:02 of the third quarter. The game was suspended briefly for a presentation by CFL CommissionerTom Wright. Allen's triumphant pose with the record-breaking football was captured by a photographer and later released by the Argos as a commemorative poster on their website.
In November 2006, Allen was voted one of the CFL'sTop 50 players (#14) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports networkThe Sports Network/TSN.
On January 18, 2007, Allen underwent successful surgery to repair the middle finger of his (right) throwing hand and was back in the gym training, in less than 24 hours.
On February 28, 2007, Allen re-signed a contract with the Argonauts for one year plus an option.
Allen started the 2007 season as the Argos starting quarterback beating outMichael Bishop and former NFL starterMike McMahon. However, he was replaced in the third quarter of the first game by Bishop despite having gone 14–18, 130 yards and a touchdown. Allen was then bumped down to third on the depth chart. However, after Bishop went down with a wrist injury and McMahon failed to impress, Allen stepped into the starting role once again. However, in his first game back as starter he injured his toe. Allen was placed on the nine-game injured list andRocky Butler took over as the Argos starting quarterback
Allen announced that his retirement as a player on May 28, 2008,[8][9][10][11][12] but will stay with the Argos as a special advisor toCEOPinball Clemons.[13]
3rd in career CFL games played (370)
1st in career CFL starts by a quarterback (304)
1st in career professional football passing yards
1st in career CFL rushing yards, quarterback (11,920)
3rd in career CFL rushing yards (11,920)
1st in career CFL rushing touchdowns, quarterback (93)
3rd in career CFL rushing touchdowns (93)
In 2018, Allen was awarded theOrder of Sport, marking his induction intoCanada's Sports Hall of Fame.[5]
| Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Att | Comp | Pct | Yards | TD | Int | Rating | Att | Yards | Avg | Long | TD | Fumb | ||
| 1985 | EDM | 16 | 2 | 98 | 48 | 49.0 | 661 | 3 | 3 | 68.5 | 36 | 190 | 5.3 | 18 | 5 | 3 | ||
| 1986 | EDM | 18 | 1 | 87 | 49 | 56.3 | 878 | 8 | 3 | 107.4 | 31 | 245 | 7.9 | 39 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 1987 | EDM | 18 | 6 | 287 | 150 | 52.3 | 2,670 | 17 | 13 | 85.3 | 66 | 562 | 8.5 | 40 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 1988 | EDM | 10 | 7 | 218 | 94 | 43.1 | 1,309 | 4 | 12 | 46.2 | 33 | 130 | 3.9 | 13 | 1 | 5 | ||
| 1989 | OTT | 13 | 12 | 434 | 209 | 48.2 | 3,093 | 17 | 16 | 69.6 | 75 | 532 | 7.1 | 51 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 1990 | OTT | 17 | 17 | 528 | 276 | 52.3 | 3,883 | 34 | 23 | 79.6 | 124 | 776 | 6.3 | 41 | 7 | 9 | ||
| 1991 | OTT | 18 | 18 | 546 | 282 | 51.6 | 4,275 | 24 | 31 | 68.7 | 129 | 1,036 | 8.0 | 42 | 8 | 6 | ||
| 1992 | HAM | 18 | 18 | 523 | 266 | 50.9 | 3,858 | 19 | 14 | 76.2 | 111 | 850 | 7.7 | 37 | 7 | 18 | ||
| 1993 | EDM | 18 | 16 | 400 | 214 | 53.5 | 3,394 | 25 | 10 | 92.4 | 120 | 920 | 7.7 | 43 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 1994 | EDM | 18 | 17 | 493 | 254 | 51.5 | 3,554 | 19 | 15 | 75.2 | 120 | 707 | 5.9 | 43 | 7 | 11 | ||
| 1995 | MEM | 15 | 14 | 390 | 228 | 58.5 | 3,211 | 11 | 13 | 80.6 | 63 | 427 | 6.8 | 25 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 1996 | BC | 14 | 13 | 368 | 219 | 59.5 | 2,772 | 13 | 10 | 83.5 | 52 | 400 | 7.7 | 31 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 1997 | BC | 18 | 18 | 583 | 378 | 64.8 | 4,653 | 21 | 11 | 93.5 | 111 | 837 | 7.5 | 28 | 8 | 9 | ||
| 1998 | BC | 18 | 18 | 479 | 282 | 58.9 | 3,519 | 16 | 16 | 79.0 | 115 | 782 | 6.8 | 29 | 2 | 5 | ||
| 1999 | BC | 18 | 18 | 521 | 315 | 60.5 | 4,219 | 22 | 13 | 89.9 | 136 | 785 | 5.8 | 30 | 8 | 13 | ||
| 2000 | BC | 18 | 18 | 525 | 324 | 61.7 | 4,840 | 24 | 11 | 98.4 | 58 | 284 | 4.9 | 34 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 2001 | BC | 16 | 16 | 471 | 251 | 53.3 | 3,631 | 18 | 14 | 79.0 | 86 | 580 | 6.7 | 45 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 2002 | BC | 18 | 18 | 474 | 268 | 56.5 | 3,987 | 22 | 10 | 90.9 | 70 | 479 | 6.8 | 22 | 4 | 7 | ||
| 2003 | TOR | 16 | 15 | 450 | 267 | 59.3 | 3,395 | 17 | 10 | 86.3 | 76 | 507 | 6.7 | 26 | 4 | 9 | ||
| 2004 | TOR | 11 | 9 | 312 | 189 | 60.6 | 2,438 | 12 | 4 | 92.6 | 40 | 212 | 5.3 | 32 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2005 | TOR | 17 | 17 | 549 | 352 | 64.1 | 5,082 | 33 | 15 | 102.7 | 85 | 467 | 5.5 | 26 | 4 | 9 | ||
| 2006 | TOR | 18 | 14 | 335 | 198 | 59.1 | 2,567 | 12 | 11 | 81.5 | 25 | 197 | 7.9 | 22 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2007 | TOR | 9 | 2 | 67 | 45 | 67.2 | 492 | 3 | 0 | 103.6 | 4 | 15 | 3.8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | ||
| CFL totals | 370 | 304 | 9,138 | 5,158 | 56.4 | 72,381 | 394 | 278 | 83.8 | 1,766 | 11,920 | 6.7 | 51 | 93 | 161 | |||
Damon has three daughters and a son. They live inOakville, Ontario.[14] Damon is employed as special assistant to the GM of the Toronto Argonauts.
Media related toDamon Allen at Wikimedia Commons