The outstanding cornerback Eric Allen, who played for the Eagles for the first seven years of his career, is getting closer to being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday night, Allen was selected as one of the fifteen contemporary finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2024 Class. In his fourth year as a semifinalist, this is his first time as a finalist.
In his seven years with the Eagles, Allen was named to five Pro Bowl teams, one First Team All-Pro, and one Pro Bowl with the Saints. After spending 14 years with the Eagles, Saints, and Raiders, he ended his career with 54 interceptions during the regular season, 8 pick-6s, 4 postseason interceptions, and 9 pick-6s.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame includes 45 defensive backs and 23 cornerbacks. Over the course of their careers, just four of them totaled 58 interceptions and nine touchdowns on interception returns.
Only two of those four—Aeneas Williams and Deion Sanders—performed as starting cornerbacks. It was only after they converted to safety that the other two, Charles and Rod Woodson, made it to those marks.
Thus, Allen has more return touchdowns and interceptions than 21 of 23 Hall of Fame cornerbacks and 41 of 45 Hall of Fame defensive backs.
