Eric Allen: A Legendary Sun Devil Football Player and Pro Football Hall of Famer
Eric Allen, a former Arizona State University (ASU) football player, has achieved the pinnacle of success in the sport. He is the sixth member from ASU to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. From 1984 to 1987, Allen played college football at ASU, leading the team to a 30-15-2 record, a Pac-10 title, and a Rose Bowl victory over Michigan in 1987.
Key Takeaways:
- Eric Allen played for the Philadelphia Eagles (7), New Orleans Saints (3), and Oakland Raiders (4) in the NFL for 14 seasons, securing 54 interceptions, 787 tackles, and 826 interception return yards.
- He is the only player in NFL history to record 3+ pick-6s in two different seasons (1989 and 1993).
- Allen was named First Team All-Pro in 1989 and earned six Pro Bowl selections during his NFL career.
- He holds the record for most interception return yards in a single game in Sun Devil Football history (129 yards against Washington State in 1987).
- Allen achieved the notable feat of recording five interceptions in his rookie season in the NFL.
- He was inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Statistics:
- 30-15-2: Eric Allen's college football record at ASU (1984-1987)
- 22-15: The score of the 1987 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan
- 54: Eric Allen's total career interceptions in the NFL
- 787: Total tackles in his 14-year NFL career
- 826: Total interception return yards in his NFL career
- 1987: The year Eric Allen recorded 8 interceptions, the fifth-best single-season total in Sun Devil Football history
- 1993: The year Eric Allen returned four interceptions for touchdowns with the Eagles, tied for the most in a single season in NFL history
- 2008: The year Eric Allen was inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame
- 2023: The year Eric Allen's record for most pick-6s in a single season was tied
- 2025: The year Eric Allen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Sources:
- Arizona State University Athletics news release
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (inclusions as mentioned in the news release)
- Various sources mentioning Eric Allen's NFL statistics and achievements