Eric Allen

For other people named Eric Allen, see Eric Allen (disambiguation).

Eric Allen

Allen in 2018
No. 21
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1965-11-22) November 22, 1965 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, California)
College:	Arizona State
NFL draft:	1988 / round: 2 / pick: 30
Career history
As a player:
Philadelphia Eagles (1988–1994) New Orleans Saints (1995–1997) Oakland Raiders (1998–2001)
As a coach:
San Diego Fleet (2019) Defensive backs coach
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pro (1989) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1991, 1993) 6× Pro Bowl (1989, 1991–1995) PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team (1988) Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 787 Interceptions: 54 Interception yards: 826 Pass deflections: 40 Forced fumbles: 5 Fumble recoveries: 7 Sacks: 3 Defensive touchdowns: 9 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Eric Andre Allen (born November 22, 1965) is an American former football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, and Oakland Raiders from 1988 to 2001. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Allen retired after the 2001 season and is currently an NFL analyst for Pac-12 Networks. In his NFL career, he recorded 54 interceptions for 826 yards and eight touchdowns, while also recovering seven fumbles. His 54 interceptions is tied for 21st in NFL history.

In 2019, he served as the defensive backs coach for the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).

Early life

Allen played high school football at Point Loma High School under legendary coach Bennie Edens.

College career

Allen played college football at Arizona State University.

Professional career

Allen was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft.

Allen played seven seasons for the Eagles, three seasons for the New Orleans Saints, and four seasons for the Oakland Raiders. While with the Eagles he was a very popular player with the "Gang Green" Defense, playing with NFL greats Reggie White, Seth Joyner, Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Andre Waters, Byron Evans, Mike Pitts, and Wes Hopkins. He is the only NFL 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 the New 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 quarterback Boomer 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. The ensuing 94-yard touchdown return was declared "Greatest Interception Return in NFL History" by Steve Sabol of NFL Films.

After several successful and injury-free seasons at Philadelphia and New Orleans, Allen blew out his knee during the 1998 season on November 15 while playing for the Oakland Raiders against the Seattle Seahawks and missed the rest of that season. But he came back strong in 2000 and had a season to remember, with six interceptions, including a team-record three for touchdowns. His teammates honored him with the first annual Eric Turner award for the Raiders' most outstanding defensive player. The award was created in the memory of the Oakland free safety who died of abdominal cancer in May 2000.

Through the 2001 season, Allen played in 216 of a possible 224 games.

In 2009, Allen also was inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions into the Breitbard Hall of Fame honoring San Diego's finest athletes both on and off the playing surface.

NFL career statistics

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

Television career

Allen joined ESPN 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.

Coaching career

On December 19, 2018, Allen was named defensive backs coach for the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football.

Personal life

He now lives in San Diego, California with his wife Lynn Allen, with whom he has four children.

External links

• Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · CBS Sports · Yahoo Sports · Sports Illustrated · Pro Football Reference