 Hines-Allen with theJacksonville Jaguars in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 41 – Jacksonville Jaguars | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1997-07-13)July 13, 1997 (age 28) Cumberland, Virginia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Montclair (Montclair, New Jersey) | ||||||||||||||||
| College | Kentucky (2015–2018) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2019: 1st round, 7th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 10, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
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Joshua Hines-Allen (bornJoshua Allen, July 13, 1997) is an American professionalfootballdefensive end for theJacksonville Jaguars of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theKentucky Wildcats, winning theChuck Bednarik Award andBronko Nagurski Trophy as a junior. Hines-Allen was selected seventh overall by the Jaguars in the2019 NFL draft and has received twoPro Bowl selections with the team.
Hines-Allen was born on July 13, 1997, to Kim and Robert Allen inCumberland County, Virginia.[1] He has a twin brother, Isaiah, and four older sisters. Due to a stutter, he spent part of his studies in New Jersey's special education system. Hines-Allen then went to live with his relatives in Alabama, attending Abbeville High School. He was later diagnosed withADHD.[2]
Although Hines-Allen grew up playing basketball, his uncle convinced him to try out for thehigh school football team. In his freshman year, he did not play a single snap in a game. In his sophomore year, he started as avarsity receiver, and in his junior year, he was an all-state receiver with 1,150 yards and 11touchdowns. Hines-Allen decided to return to New Jersey for his senior year, attendingMontclair High School. He switched position from receiver todefensive end, affecting his recruiting opportunities. During his sole season with the Mounties, Hines-Allen led the state in sacks that year and recorded a touchdown catch, as the team finished 11–1 and won the 2014 state title (after losing their first and only game of the season toPascack Valley).[2] After high school, Hines-Allen first committed toMonmouth, but later received an offer fromKentucky.[3]
Despite Hines-Allen leading New Jersey in sacks as a senior, he was still very much under therecruiting radar. Four highly rated recruits who went on to become NFL players—Jabrill Peppers,Quenton Nelson,David Njoku, andMike Gesicki—were fellow high school seniors in New Jersey. The recruiting website247Sports rated Hines-Allen as a two-star prospect (out of a possible five), and ranked more than 2,000 players in the 2015 recruiting class ahead of him. John Fiore, at the time head coach at Montclair High, actively tried to getRutgers to evaluate him, but the coaching staff there showed no interest. In a 2019ESPN story on Hines-Allen, Fiore said about Rutgers' lack of interest, "Some people just couldn't see the potential in him. Kentucky did, and they won big. I told Rutgers, 'You guys are going to look foolish when he's drafted in the first round.'" In fact, when Hines-Allen made his verbal commitment to Monmouth, noFootball Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school had offered him a scholarship, and no otherNCAA Division I school, whether FBS or FCS, had made him an offer.[4]
Hines-Allen's journey to Kentucky began withWest Orange High School head coach Jim Matsakis, whose team had faced Montclair High in his senior year. Matsakis made a phone call to his brother Louie, who was then on the Wildcats coaching staff. Louie first contactedD. J. Eliot, then Kentucky's outside linebackers coach, who in turn contacted the then-defensive backs coachDerrick Ansley while the latter was on a recruiting trip in theWashington metropolitan area. Eliot told Ansley to detour to New Jersey to meet with Hines-Allen and arrange for an immediate campus visit if he was at least 6'4". While he had verbally committed to Monmouth, Hines-Allen was still available for recruitment as he had yet to sign aletter of intent. Hines-Allen visited Kentucky and signed with the Wildcats three days later.[4]
Following his junior season in which he had 7 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, Hines-Allen was named to theAssociated Press Second-team and theAll-Southeastern Conference (SEC) team.[5] After this season, Hines-Allen considered forgoing his senior year and declaring for the2018 NFL draft.[6] He later decided to return to Kentucky for his senior season.[7] He also dropped into coverage on 141 snaps and allowed just 130 yards on 19 targets without allowing a touchdown. Hines-Allen was aunanimous All-American, won theChuck Bednarik Award,[8] theBronko Nagurski Trophy,[9] and was named theSEC Defensive Player of the Year.[10][11] Allen finished his career asKentucky's all-time sack leader with 31.5.[12]
| Kentucky Wildcats | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
| Solo | Ast | Total | Loss | Sack | Int | Yards | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yards | TD | FF | ||||
| 2015 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016 | 13 | 32 | 30 | 62 | 8.5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2017 | 13 | 32 | 34 | 66 | 10.5 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2018 | 13 | 56 | 32 | 88 | 21.5 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+7⁄8 in (1.95 m) | 262 lb (119 kg) | 33+1⁄2 in (0.85 m) | 8+3⁄4 in (0.22 m) | 4.63 s | 1.57 s | 2.70 s | 4.23 s | 7.15 s | 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) | 28 reps | 15 | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[13][14] | ||||||||||||
Hines-Allen was selected by theJacksonville Jaguars with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the2019 NFL draft.[15] On May 23, 2019, Hines-Allen signed his four-year rookie contract, worth a fully guaranteed $21.8 million, including a $14.6 million signing bonus.[16]
During Week 3 against theTennessee Titans, Hines-Allen recorded his first two career sacks onMarcus Mariota as the Jaguars won 20–7.[17] Two weeks later against theCarolina Panthers, he sackedKyle Allen once in the 34–27 road loss.[18] During Week 8 against theNew York Jets, Hines-Allen sackedSam Darnold twice in the 29–15 win.[19]
Hines-Allen finished the season with a team-leading (and franchise rookie record-setting) 10.5 sacks, 44 tackles, and two forced fumbles. Following the AFC Championship Game, he was selected as aPro Bowl alternate for defensive endFrank Clark. As a result, Hines-Allen became the first Jaguars player in history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in their rookie season. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[20]
In Week 3 against theMiami Dolphins onThursday Night Football, Hines-Allen recorded his first sack of the season during the 31–13 loss.[21] On November 24, 2020, Allen was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.[22]
In Week 9 against theBuffalo Bills, Hines-Allen helped lead the Jaguars to a 9–6 upset with a career game. Hines-Allen had eight tackles, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery on Bills quarterbackJosh Allen. Hines-Allen was known as Josh Allen at the time and became the first player in NFL history to record a sack, interception, and a fumble recovery from a quarterback with the same name.[23]
The Jaguars picked up the fifth-year option on Hines-Allen's contract on April 28, 2022.[24]
In the team's final regular-season game, Hines-Allen scored the game-winning touchdown on a fumble recovery against the Titans, securing the Jaguars their first division title and playoff berth since 2017.[25][26] He was named AFC Defensive Player Of The Week for his performance.[27]
In Week 1, Hines-Allen started the year with three sacks against theIndianapolis Colts, helping secure a 31–21 win for the Jaguars.[28] In Week 12, Hines-Allen recorded 2.5 sacks, five tackles, including two for a loss in a 24–21 win over the Houston Texans, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[29]
Hines-Allen finished the season with 17.5 sacks, a career-high and franchise record for most sacks in a season,[30] and was named to the2024 Pro Bowl.[31]
On March 5, 2024, the Jaguars placed thefranchise tag on Hines-Allen.[32] On April 10, 2024, the Jaguars signed Hines-Allen to a five-year extension worth $150 million, including $88 million guaranteed.[33] After playing the last five seasons as an outside linebacker in a3–4 defense, Hines-Allen switched todefensive end after new defensive coordinator,Ryan Nielsen, implemented a4–3 scheme.[34]
On November 15, 2025, Hines-Allen sacked Chargers quarterbackJustin Herbert to record his 56th career sack, breaking the Jaguars franchise record previously held by defensive endTony Brackens, who had 55 sacks.[35]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career best |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sck | Sfty | PD | Int | Yds | Y/I | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | Y/R | TD | ||
| 2019 | JAX | 16 | 4 | 44 | 31 | 13 | 11 | 10.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | JAX | 8 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | JAX | 16 | 15 | 71 | 46 | 25 | 12 | 7.5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2022 | JAX | 17 | 17 | 57 | 35 | 22 | 11 | 7.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 19.0 | 1 |
| 2023 | JAX | 17 | 17 | 66 | 43 | 23 | 17 | 17.5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2024 | JAX | 16 | 16 | 45 | 26 | 19 | 10 | 8.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 0 |
| 2025 | JAX | 9 | 9 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 2.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Career | 99 | 85 | 319 | 201 | 118 | 68 | 55.0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 51 | 12.8 | 1 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sck | Sfty | PD | Int | Yds | Y/I | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | Y/R | TD | ||
| 2022 | JAX | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Career | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
One of his sisters,Myisha Hines-Allen, is a professional basketball player for theDallas Wings.[37] Two other sisters played basketball, LaTorri Hines-Allen for Division ITowson, and Kyra Hines-Allen forDivision IICheyney. An uncle, Gregory Hines, was a legendary player forHampton basketball when the Pirates were still in Division II. He was later chosen in the fifth round of the1983 NBA draft; although he never played in the league, he did play professionally for over a decade.[4] Another uncle, Keith, played basketball atMontclair State.[38]
Hines-Allen married Kaitlyn Morrison on April 17, 2019. The two met during their freshman year of college in 2015 at the University of Kentucky. Kaitlyn is from Ohio and has a license in Cosmetology, as well as attending college for psychology.Hines-Allen has three children with his wife: Wesley, Julian, and Vanessa.
On July 9, 2024, he officially announced a name change from Joshua Allen to Joshua Hines-Allen, in honor of his sisters and uncles, who were all athletes.[39]
