Vikings Fan Favorite Named to Hall of Fame Class of 2025

The Super Bowl is this weekend, and part of the yearly festivities includes the NFL Honors program, an award show recognizing outstanding players and coaches.

As part of the NFL Honors show last night in New Orleans, the 2025 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame was announced. Among the inductees is a fan-favorite who played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2008 to 2013.

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Jared Allen Joins the Hall of Fame

In the city where he experienced one of the toughest losses of his career, Jared Allen was officially named to the Hall of Fame. The defensive end, famous for his signature calf-roping celebration after each sack, will be enshrined alongside DB Eric Allen, TE Antonio Gates, and WR Sterling Sharpe.

A Bittersweet Moment in New Orleans

Allen will be introduced at the Super Bowl, stepping onto the same field where the Vikings lost the NFC Championship Game 15 years ago in overtime to the New Orleans Saints. That controversial game, marred by the Saints' infamous "Bountygate" scandal, still stings for many Vikings fans.

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Reflecting on the moment, Allen told Vikings.com, "I wish it would have happened in a city that I don't have so much trauma in, from New Orleans, but other than that, it's been great."

From Minnesota to Canton

Before his time in Minnesota, Allen was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Now, as the Chiefs play for their third consecutive Super Bowl title, one of their former stars will receive football’s highest honor.

Over his 12-year career with the Chiefs, Vikings, Bears, and Panthers, Allen recorded 648 total tackles, 31 forced fumbles, six interceptions, and four safeties. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, cementing his legacy as one of the game's great defensive ends.