Eric Allen, a former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback, will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Allen was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft and played 14 seasons in the league, with his first seven years spent in Philadelphia. During his time with the Eagles, he made six Pro Bowl appearances and was named a first-team All-Pro player in 1989.
Allen recorded 34 interceptions while playing for Philadelphia and returned five of those for touchdowns. Over his career, he totaled 54 interceptions and eight returns for touchdowns. Despite these achievements, Allen emphasized that his focus was always on being an all-around player dedicated to his team.
“I wanted to be remembered as an all-around player, someone who worked hard, dedicated myself to the game and my teammates, and prepared to do whatever it took to win football games,” Allen said. “Going against the greatest receivers in the game was fun. I loved all of it.
“This whole thing has been awesome. I’m having a great time out here (in Canton) and I’m thankful for everything that has happened in my career, the support I’ve been given from my family, from my coaches, the fans, the organizations that I’ve played with. To have this journey, it’s just like football: You do your part and you surround yourself with great people and you all help each other.”
Allen is set to deliver a speech at his induction ceremony with several former Eagles teammates expected to attend. He learned about his selection shortly before Super Bowl LIX.
“Always fun to be in that locker room and with that team because there were so many great players and dynamic personalities,” Allen said. “We went after offenses. We dared them to beat us and, hey, sometimes they did. But we never backed down. We were going to punch you in the mouth and I think that’s a reason a lot of Eagles fans loved us. We were a tough team in a tough city.”
Allen’s career spanned notable eras in NFL history; he started as a rookie for Philadelphia immediately after joining from Arizona State University—a feat not repeated by an Eagles cornerback until Quinyon Mitchell did so during the 2024 season—and faced legendary quarterbacks such as Joe Montana early on and Tom Brady late in his career.
“It wasn’t just me. So many great players and teammates. Great coaches who believed in me. A family that supported me,” he said. “I have all of those people to thank. Thank you to the fans. Thank you to everyone who loves the game of football. I’ve truly been blessed and I’ve loved it all and I’m still loving it.”
