Long Before Mitchell and DeJean, the Eagles Had Another Incredible Rookie Cornerback in the Secondary.
It was week 16 of the 1992 NFL season. The Eagles were hosting the Washington Redskins on the frozen turf of Veterans Stadium. The winner would advance to the NFC Playoffs. In a back-and-forth scoring affair where the Eagles eeked out a 17–13 advantage — Washington was 4th down and two at the Eagles’ two-yard line on the last play of the game.
Mark Rypien sprinter out and saw Gary Clark in the end zone. With no time left, Eric Allen batted away his pass. Allen sprinted down the sideline, the whole Eagles sideline erupting in joy.
For the second year in a row, former Eagles cornerback Eric Allen is a finalist for the NFL Hall of Fame.
On Sunday, at the Oakland Raiders’ last home game — Allen will light the Al Davis Memorial Torch outside of Allegiant Stadium.
Back at Veteran’s Stadium, Rich Kotite — now coaching Buddy Ryan’s Eagles — had Philadelphia in the playoffs. Since the Buddy Ryan Era began in 1985 — the Eagles have met with one playoff disaster after another. A loss in Chicago in the Fog Bowl in 1988, a loss at home to the LA Rams in 1989, and even one in 1990 to these same Washington Redskins. Now, this Super Bowl-quality defense was in the playoffs yet again.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s — you didn’t want to face the Eagles defense. And you certainly didn’t want to be a receiver against them. If you were fortunate enough to shake the lockdown coverage of Eric Allen rarely, then you would pulverized by thunderous, jawbreaking hits from Eagles Safeties Wes Hopkins and Andre Waters.
If you crossed the middle of the field, you wouldn’t run that route twice. If you run the ball into the second level, you’d have an earth-shattering, eardrum-ringing hit coming—your choice.
Eric Allen was taken by NFL talent guru Buddy Ryan’s radar in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. Much like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean — he made an almost instant impact. In seven seasons with the Eagles — Allen was First-Team All-Pro in 1989, 2nd Team All-Pro in 1991 and 1993, a six-time Pro Bowler, and earned honors from the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team in 1988. He was also a member of the Eagles 75th Anniversary Team and the Eagles Hall of Fame.
In the NFC Wildcard Game of the 1993 NFL Playoffs in New Orleans, Eric Allen intercepted Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert and returned it for eighteen yards to seal the win for Philadelphia. In October of 1993 — he intercepted Jets Quarterback Boomer Esiason and scored on a 94-yard return. Steve Sabol labeled it the “Greatest Interception Return in NFL History”.
Finally, in 1995 — as the Norman Braman Eagles era ended in Philadelphia, Allen left and would play his remaining years with the Saints and the Raiders.
But where he made his NFL career was right here in Philadelphia. It’s a career that deserves admission into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Admission this year.
PHOTO: Pro Football Hall of Fame/Twitter/X
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