NEW ORLEANS – It's fitting that Eric Allen is the first cornerback in Eagles history to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The long wait is finally over, as Allen was announced as part of the Class of 2025 on Thursday night at the NFL Honors awards ceremony in New Orleans.
"On behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles, we proudly congratulate Eric Allen on his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Eric was an incredibly talented player who was an integral part of a legendary Eagles defense," Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said.
"As we rightly celebrate his football legacy, we also recognize Eric as a special person who left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of crossing paths with him. He is a man of great character and integrity who earned the respect of his teammates, coaches, and Eagles fans everywhere.
"Eric has always been a Hall of Famer in my eyes, so it is exciting to know that he will now be officially honored among football's all-time greats. We are beyond thrilled for him and look forward to celebrating with Eric and his family this summer in Canton."
Allen will be the first Eagles player to be inducted since Harold Carmichael was a member of the Class of 2020. Former Head Coach Dick Vermeil was enshrined in 2022.
"I'm super excited," Allen told Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro on Thursday by phone. "I'm very humbled. My wife and I (Lynn) used to dream in high school about playing in the NFL and to now be in the position, I mean, it's indescribable. It's very emotional and it's overwhelming. I want to say 'thank you' to so many people who helped me get to this point.
"All of those Eagles who helped me ... amazing group. Reggie White and (his wife) Sara took me under their wing when I got there. They taught me how to be a pro. I wish I could share this with him and Andre (Waters), Todd (Bell), Jerome (Brown), I wish they could be here with me. They made me."
Originally selected by the Eagles in the second round (30th overall) in the 1988 NFL Draft out of Arizona State, Allen was a six-time Pro Bowl selection (five with the Eagles, tied for most by a cornerback in team history), a three-time All-Pro, and a member of the Eagles' 75th Anniversary Team and Hall of Fame. The UPI chose Allen as its NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 when he tied the then-NFL record with four touchdowns off interceptions.
Allen shares the Eagles' all-time record for most interceptions with 34, finishing with 54 for his entire career, which included seven seasons in Philadelphia, three in New Orleans, and four with the Raiders in Oakland. Reliable and durable, Allen missed just one game in those seven seasons with the Eagles.
His 54 interceptions are tied for 21st in NFL history. Once he had the ball in his hands, Allen was a scoring machine with eight career pick-sixes, tied for eighth in NFL history. He added another four interceptions in the playoffs, with a touchdown.
Allen was a part of the legendary Gang Green defense that led the NFL in total yards, rushing yards, and passing yards allowed in 1991 – a rare triple crown that has not been accomplished since. The Eagles also led the league in sacks and takeaways that year. Five members of that defense, including Allen, went to the Pro Bowl with Brown, Seth Joyner, Clyde Simmons, and White. All five of them are also in the Eagles Hall of Fame.
"I feel like I was a complete cornerback," Allen said. "I traveled with the best of the best receivers in the game – left side, right side, everything. I think there are 13 or 14 receivers I played against who are in the Hall of Fame."
Allen is now there as well.
It is fitting that New Orleans was the site of Allen's Hall of Fame announcement. On January 3, 1993, Allen sparked one of the greatest playoff comebacks in team history when he intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown in a 36-20 victory over the Saints.
Sure, the game didn't seem close, but the Eagles trailed 20-7 in the third quarter until Allen's first interception sparked the turnaround as Philadelphia scored the game's final 29 points, with Allen's 18-yard touchdown return the exclamation point with just over two minutes left in the game.
Against New Orleans once again, in a game at Veterans Stadium the following season, Allen scored not one, but two pick-sixes to tie the NFL single-game record as Philadelphia defeated New Orleans 37-26.
2025 was a critical year for Allen's Hall of Fame candidacy. Players are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame five years after they retire and then have only 20 years to be a modern-era selection before entering what is called the Seniors Category, which is determined by a separate vote.
This was Allen's 19th year on the ballot.
But the wait is over. And the last time an Eagles defensive back was selected for induction (Brian Dawkins in 2018), it came on the eve of the franchise's first Super Bowl Championship. Could the second be just days away?
