APJared Allen apparently rode his horse as far as the nearest snowmobile.
The veteran defensive end, who finished last season with the Panthers, has signed a one-day contract with the Vikings to retire a member of the team he was best with.
Allen spent six of his 12 seasons with the Vikings, with 83.5 sacks and contributing to three 10-win seasons.
“We are incredibly proud to have Jared retire as a member of the Vikings franchise,” Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said in a statement from the team. “Jared was not only a phenomenal player on the field, but he was also a favorite among the fans and within the organization. He will always be a member of the Minnesota Vikings family.”
Allen never missed a game for the Vikings, after being acquired in a 2008 trade with the Chiefs. The former fourth-round pick is tied for ninth on the all-time sack list with 136.0.
This is the kind of thing you have to hang your hat on when you’ve never won a Lombardi, haven’t even made the Super Bowl in 30 years, and can’t make a 10 yard field goal.
Wilf is a pimp…just like the majority of NFL owners…
The Chiefs used those picks to land Brandon Albert and Jamaal Charles.
Win-win.
He couldn’t distance himself fast enough from the QB who ran away from a fumble with the game on the line in the SB like it as a nest of angry hornets….
Atta boy Jared, right where you belong. Congrats on a great career, and enjoy your retirement.
Wilf is a pimp…just like the majority of NFL owners…
If it wasn’t for those pimps you would be watching soccer…
It is an honor for all Vikings fans to have such a great player choose to retire as a Viking.
NICE. Cap that career of futility by retiring with a team that defines futility.
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I am happy for Allen as his best days were on the field as a Viking.He should be remembered as a Vike !…his stats were downhill after leaving Minn. but his heart was always with the team where he had the most success. db
Notice that they were nice enough to not fleece him with a $250 piece of paper!
Kudos for Jared’s work with the Wounded Warrior Project. Also, his younger brother is a Marine.
Congrats on a HOF career and enjoy retirement!
A TRUE Warrior! So happy he chose the Vikings in the end, and the Vikings chose him! Jared, it is TRULY an honor!
It was the right thing to do for Allen and the Vikes. Congrats Jared Allen on a great career. NFL needs more like you.
If only Packer trolls knew how to stop talking…
Anyway, we will always love you, Jared. God bless you and I hope you get into the HOF someday.
tokyosandblaster says:
Apr 14, 2016 11:59 AM
NICE. Cap that career of futility by retiring with a team that defines futility.
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I don’t have a dog in this fight but I would say finishing in the top 10 of a very relevant stat category for your position and retiring with class, loved by your fans and teammates, makes for a pretty good career.
Makes total sense since he never “played” for another team. Sucked as a Bear (yes, other Bears sucked, too) and evaporated for the Panthers. Hope he has fun in retirement.
Sad that of the 4 teams he chose to retire with, it was the Vikings. But I suppose he feels obligated since they were the one’s who over-paid him the most.
Packer fan here. I have nothing but respect for Jared Allen. Congrats on an amazing career and knowing how to enjoy it.
tokyosandblaster says:
Apr 14, 2016 11:59 AM
NICE. Cap that career of futility by retiring with a team that defines futility.
>
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Right… Being one the best to ever play the position, finish 9th all time for sacks and be a sure fire hall of famer, potentially first ballot. Yep definition of futility
Oh wait, sacks leader, guess that would include all defensive players including the entire Packer defense list dating back to when they were beating the Cheboygan cobblers.
Good for him,and the Vike’s. A class guy all around.
Go Pack
vikesfan says:
Apr 14, 2016 11:58 AM
It is an honor for all Vikings fans to have such a great player choose to retire as a Viking.
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But what’s the point? Everyone knows it isn’t true, it’s a charade. He played his last games with another team. To have had a long career with a team and then retire with them when you were still active means something, means a lot. But things like this are just pure invention and mean nothing. It’s not even as if the Vikings tried to hold onto him in 2014, they instead chose to open their wallet to Griffen and Robison, and so Allen was effectively told thanks but no thanks. But still, dream your little nice pretend dream if you want.
Hey check guy, you better check your #s, the Bears are the ones that let him go with all that $$$ this past season!! The Vikings may have paid him a lot of money, but they also got his BEST! We are very proud of what Jared did for our team.
WIDE LEFT!
Wow, there’s a surprisingly larger-than-normal amount of classless trolls here today.
Awesome career Jared. We are so proud of you and we will miss all the fun moments with you. You were definitely one of the most likeable guys in football, as well as one of the most talented all-time. Good luck on whatever you do next (SPORTS BROADCASTING! PLEAAAAAAAAASE!)
Don’t let the Mrs. make you chop off that magical mullet ever again!
Congrats to Jared, not only for his excellent play on the field, but for getting his off field life together after leaving K.C.
He left many QBs battered, shattered and bruised.
Welcome home Jared, back to the NFC North Champ Minnesota Vikings.
Retiring a winner.
While our little brothers to the southeast see their stars leave, being forced out, such as Lombardi, Holmgren, and Favre-we welcome ours back!
You will always be a stud Jared, and a better person!
You love your country-thanks for all the memories and your support for our troops!
God speed……
Makes total sense since he never “played” for another team.
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Uhhh…he made his name with the Chiefs, which got him the big money with the Vikings, so there is that. But it’s okay if you aren’t old enough to remember.
tokyosandblaster says:
Apr 14, 2016 11:59 AM
NICE. Cap that career of futility by retiring with a team that defines futility.
bridgeh2o says:
Dude…..he had Rodgers running around like a scared school girl……you haven’t gotten over it, it appears!
Sorry you are butt hurt for the Vikings climb to the top of the division…..Zimmer has us well ahead of the curve.
Just think when the green bay rodgers actually has no rodgers???
Back to 25 years of futility aka 1968-1992……yikes!!!!!!
Ha ha……we love the scared packer trolls!!!!!!!
Didn’t realize he essentially split his career between KC and Minny. I still think of him as a Chief first
Hell of a talent. Hell of a career. Although, I was initially upset with the trade to the Vikings, in hindsight it worked out for both parties.
Most of all, I’m glad he was able to turn his life around after his second DUI. Doing so helped lead him to a HOF career.
At least Jared got to play for respectable franchises outside our championship-less Vikings. He was wasted talent in his prime years here on the Vikings.
The amount of wasted talent between the Lions and Vikings is astronomical!
Right… Being one the best to ever play the position, finish 9th all time for sacks and be a sure fire hall of famer, potentially first ballot. Yep definition of futility
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Futility= no championships. That is what he was talking about. Other than being a dirty player, he was great.
Just think when the green bay rodgers actually has no rodgers???
Back to 25 years of futility aka 1968-1992……yikes!!!!!!
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Living in Minnesota….this was said to me from about 2000 onward with Favre.
Rinse and Repeat.
But hey…..he was able to ruin your hopes and dreams in the NFCCG, so you’re welcome!!
Even as a Packers fan, I have to admit how much I loved to watch this guy play! All guts, great player, winning attitude!
Kudos to Jared!
Dear Jared,
As if being a redneck wasn’t enough, you chose to tie your legacy permanently to a team with zero titles and zero chance to ever obtain one. I can understand taking the money to make a career, but why would you voluntarily do that to yourself? Why associate yourself with a loser?
I would have retired a Bear or a Chief if I were you. At least they have some (small) history of success.
>
Packer fans are just jealous because once 99% of their players leave their team they never want to come back. Even non-players from Wisconsin don’t want to live there if they can help it. More sconnies living in the twin cities and Chicago then in the entirety of their own state.
Congrats to Jared Allen on his pending retirement.
Though I rooted against you most of your career, you were nothing but a class act on and off the field.
One of the true great ambassadors of the NFL.
It was also a pleasure to see you embrace the Suck one last time.
Seriously hope you stay connected to the game in some form.
Because I think you’d be a hoot.
This shows the lack of class of Packer fans… But no one expects anything less from them. Jared Allen was a great player and heck of a guy off the field. His work with veterans is unmatched. See you in the HOF Jared.
No team in NFL history has had as many players on their defensive line who when they played were one of the best of that era as the Minnesota Vikings.
The NFL could use more guys like him. Started getting into off-field trouble but took care of the issues and turned things around for himself. He’s a character as well.
Only question now is if he is Hall-worthy.
Good guy, great player and has used his fame and fortune to help others. Nice to see that he has chosen to retire as a member of the Vikings and that at least a couple Pack fans with class and common sense appreciated the guy.
The headline should read Jared Allen just signed a longer and more lucrative contract than Johnny Manziel. Haha i crack myself up.
Tip of the cap to a great player.
Hard to understand the number of folks that just don’t get it. If you love the game how can you not appreciate that you got to watch an all time great no matter what uniform he wore? Especially if you watched him against your team twice a year. Diminishing a great player on a division opponent disrespects what your own team did against them.
I’m a Giants guy but have no problem giving it up for Roger Staubach, Darrell Green or Reggie White.
He did some nice things for veterans. Kudos. But he was a dirty player on the field. All you have to do is Google it. In fact, he was ranked as the 9th in a ranking of Top 25 dirtiest players.
“Jared Allen will disagree but he’s been labelled one of the NFL’s dirtiest players on numerous occasions.
One of his more famous hits was an alleged cheap shot on Matt Schaub’s knee in 2008 that sidelined Schaub for a few games.”
Sorry! SKOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!
Donut Club!
Great Viking! Future Hall of famer! Even better person! Proud to see him retire a Viking!
Sweet
It’s weird to see people say the NFL could use more guys like him given that he had 3 DUI’s and was labeled as a cheap shot artist and ranked as one of the dirtiest players in the NFL.
Yet all is forgotten because he does some charitable work on behalf of veterans and because he’s funny in interviews?
I enjoyed watching my Packers double-team Jared Allen. He was a good opponent and fun to watch, even if he did make us look bad, but not as bad as our traitor Packer trolls here who admit to being Minnesotans at one time. Those are the ones that are better people only because they make for better lampshades. You don’t see me living in Minnesota. That’s why I am Wisconsin’s Favorite Son. I am not a traitor.
It’s too bad Jared Allen was rarely ever double teamed by the Packers. Chad Clifton shut him down one on one so many times that Allen even publicly stated that he was his toughest opponent.
Sorry fake Packer fan.
It is great to see how this was handled. The Vikings knew Allen was nearing the end of his career and had an up and coming player with Griffen that they did not want to hold back any longer so the Vikings choose not to attempt to resign Allen and let him continue his career elsewhere instead of demanding he retire even though that meant he might end up with a division rival. Both sides understood the situation and were professional about it. And after Allen joined the Bears the Vikings fans were still happy for him and were also glad to see him get a SB shot with Carolina instead of vindictively rooting against him. All this leads up to this day where Allen can retire a Viking the same season he retired instead of having to wait 5 years to let knuckleheads cool off.
Now that makes me a happy Viking fan! He was a great team mate and did the Vikings good for the time he was there! Skoal!!!
Man all the salty trolls are here in force today. Gotta love how they always funnel into the Vikings forums. Gotta be a pretty boring world for you guys outside of this. Sucks you have no life but anyways…
GG Allen. It was always entertaining watching you play. It was also entertaining watching you kill a Elk with a f’ing spear.
Who is going to be the first troll to bring up reggie white on DWTS?
Stay classy, GB.
He originally signed a deal to retire as a Chief, but after being unable to agree on compensation he was traded to the Vikings for a first and two thirds. All parties call it a win-win.
I like it when players feel a connection with the community and the fans. Good for him.
I don’t really understand the ceremony of it all though, because I thought players had no team affiliation when considered for the HOF. Is there a purpose behind this action, or is it just “feel-good” stuff?
So long, good luck and best wishes to him.
No reason to be snarky in situations like this.
Yes, it is too bad that our Packers didn’t double-team Jared Allen more often when he had his career-best day against us, getting 4.5 sacks.
It’s also too bad Chad Clifton stopped Allen in their first game, but got several holding calls that game and actually did get help with double teams on Allen, then an injured Allen came back their next game and dominated Clifton, getting a safety on Aaron.
Don’t confuse the poster with too many names with the facts… 😀
It’s interesting to see the difference in how some fan bases treat their star players who leave the team. When Jared left, the Viking fans wished him well and said they were sorry to see him go. When he came back playing for the Bears, they gave him a standing ovation.
IN contrast when Favre left Green Bay, the fans turned on him and booed him. It’s not surprising that Jared would want to retire from a team who’s fan treated him this way.
bridgeh2o says:
Apr 14, 2016 12:45 PM
tokyosandblaster says:
Apr 14, 2016 11:59 AM
NICE. Cap that career of futility by retiring with a team that defines futility.
bridgeh2o says:
Dude…..he had Rodgers running around like a scared school girl……you haven’t gotten over it, it appears!
Sorry you are butt hurt for the Vikings climb to the top of the division…..Zimmer has us well ahead of the curve.
Just think when the green bay rodgers actually has no rodgers???
Back to 25 years of futility aka 1968-1992……yikes!!!!!!
Ha ha……we love the scared packer trolls!!!!!!!
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First I would like to say I always enjoyed Jared Allen. I loved his sack celebration and his off the field activities (for the most part). Lastly bridgeh2o you don’t really think the Packers will have any trouble finding another QB do you? Chances are they already know who they will target in 3 years or so. Than three more learning from Rodgers and the Packers will be set 12 more years. This is a given.
Just wanted to say thanks to the classy Packer fans here for all of their well wishes and remembrances of Jared. I know there is also much hate as well, but I refuse to dwell on that as life is too short. He had a great career and I am thrilled that he decided to retire a Viking. I knew in my heart of hearts that when we had Brett for that short time, he would eventually retire a Packer ( I told my husband it would happen, and it did, and rightfully so). Don’t get me wrong, I loved having him for the time we did because it was awesome. I know the careers are completely different, but I just thought I would put that out there. Thanks again.
“Oh wait, sacks leader, guess that would include all defensive players including the entire Packer defense list dating back to when they were beating the Cheboygan cobblers.”
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While I am a Vikings fan, I would be remiss if I did not point out that no, it does not include all the players dating back to the early days of the NFL.
The “Sack” was no an official statistic tracked by the NFL until the early 1980s. Thus the record for all time sacks (Bruce Smith, Reggie White etc) might not really be, players like Deacon Jones, Carl Eller and yes, Packer great Willie Davis, who teammates estimate had as many as 25 sacks one year. Davis himself estimated he had at least 100 in his career, but we just don’t know. There are people who have tried to go back and watch available footage to calculate after the fact but stuff is missing, and often there are judgement calls involved (team stats often show higher sack totals than official NFL stats for players). The Vikings for example list Carl Eller as having had 130½ sacks, the NFL has him at 0, like all players of his era.
Oh, an yeah, good job Jared. Kinda wish he had done this and then ridden off into the sunset (there might have been some sun), but not going to begrudge him.