.jpg) Allen in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
| No. 21 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1965-11-22)November 22, 1965 (age 59) San Diego, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Point Loma(San Diego) | ||||||||||||||||||
| College: | Arizona State (1984–1987) | ||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1988: 2nd round, 30th pick | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||
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As a coach: | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||||
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Eric Andre Allen (born November 22, 1965) is an American former professionalfootballcornerback who played in theNational Football League (NFL) for thePhiladelphia Eagles,New Orleans Saints, andOakland Raiders from 1988 to 2001. A six-timePro Bowl selection, Allen retired after the 2001 season and is currently an NFL analyst forPac-12 Networks. In his NFL career, he recorded 54interceptions for 826 yards and eighttouchdowns, while also recovering sevenfumbles. His 54 interceptions is tied for21st in NFL history.[1] He was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
In 2019, he served as thedefensive backs coach for theSan Diego Fleet of theAlliance of American Football (AAF).[2][3]
Allen playedhigh school football atPoint Loma High School under legendary coachBennie Edens.
Allen playedcollege football atArizona State University.
| Height | Weight | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft9+3⁄4 in (1.77 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.46 s | 1.58 s | 2.62 s | 4.19 s | 30.5 in (0.77 m) | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) | 14 reps |
Allen was selected by thePhiladelphia Eagles in the second round of the1988 NFL draft.[4]
Allen played seven seasons for the Eagles, three seasons for theNew Orleans Saints, and four seasons for theOakland Raiders. While with the Eagles he was a very popular player with the "Gang Green" Defense, playing with NFL greatsReggie White,Seth Joyner,Jerome Brown,Clyde Simmons,Andre Waters,Byron Evans,Mike Pitts, andWes Hopkins. He is the onlyNFL player to run back three or more interceptions for scores in two separate seasons.
One of Allen's most memorable plays occurred October 3, 1993, in a game against theNew York Jets. Having lost their starting quarterback (Randall Cunningham) to a fractured fibula early in the contest, the Eagles found themselves trailing the Jets by two points late in the 4th quarter as the Jets drove downfield for what would likely be the game's final points. Jets quarterbackBoomer Esiason attempted to throw for a first down inside the Eagles 10-yard line as Allen stepped in front of the intended receiver at the 6-yard line.[5] The ensuing 94-yard touchdown return was declared "Greatest Interception Return in NFL History" bySteve Sabol ofNFL Films.
After several successful and injury-free seasons at Philadelphia and New Orleans, Allen blew out his knee during the1998 season on November 15 while playing for theOakland Raiders against theSeattle Seahawks and missed the rest of that season. But he came back strong in2000 and had a season to remember, with six interceptions, including a team-record three for touchdowns. His teammates honored him with the first annualEric Turner award for the Raiders' most outstanding defensive player. The award was created in the memory of the Oaklandfree safety who died of abdominal cancer in May 2000.
Through the2001 season, Allen played in 216 of a possible 224 games.
In 2009, Allen also was inducted by theSan Diego Hall of Champions into theBreitbard Hall of Fame[usurped] honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.[6]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | FF | FR | ||
| 1988 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 65 | — | — | 0.0 | 5 | 76 | 15.2 | 21 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | PHI | 15 | 15 | 48 | — | — | 0.0 | 8 | 38 | 4.8 | 18 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | PHI | 16 | 15 | 63 | — | — | 0.0 | 3 | 37 | 12.3 | 35 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 39 | — | — | 0.0 | 5 | 20 | 4.0 | 8 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 72 | — | — | 0.0 | 4 | 49 | 12.2 | 36 | 0 | — | 0 | 2 |
| 1993 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 64 | 52 | 6 | 2.0 | 6 | 201 | 33.5 | 94 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 57 | 46 | 11 | 0.0 | 3 | 61 | 20.3 | 33 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | NO | 16 | 16 | 59 | 44 | 14 | 0.0 | 2 | 28 | 14.0 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | NO | 16 | 16 | 51 | 48 | 3 | 0.0 | 1 | 33 | 33.0 | 33 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | NO | 16 | 16 | 50 | 45 | 5 | 0.0 | 2 | 27 | 13.5 | 27 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | OAK | 10 | 10 | 35 | 33 | 2 | 0.0 | 5 | 59 | 11.8 | 22 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 61 | 52 | 9 | 0.0 | 3 | 33 | 11.0 | 31 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 | OAK | 16 | 15 | 68 | 62 | 6 | 1.0 | 6 | 145 | 24.2 | 50 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | OAK | 15 | 14 | 55 | 49 | 6 | 0.0 | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 19 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| Career | 216 | 213 | 787 | 431 | 62 | 3.0 | 54 | 826 | 16.3 | 94 | 8 | 120 | 5 | 6 | |
Allen joinedESPN in August 2002 as an NFL studio analyst. Allen primarily appears on ESPN's "Sportscenter" as an NFL analyst.
Allen has had appearances as a college football analyst on the Pac-12 Networks football shows, as well as for the station's flagship show "Sports Report" as a football analyst.
On December 19, 2018, Allen was named defensive backs coach for theSan Diego Fleet of theAlliance of American Football.[7]
He now lives inSan Diego, California with his wife Lynn Allen, with whom he has four children.[citation needed]
SAN DIEGO FLEET — Named Eric Allen defensive backs coach andLaMont Jordan running backs coach.