Former NFL player on forgiveness

Defensive end Jared Allen was already an unforgettable player, the Pro Football Hall of Fame just made it official on Saturday as he was enshrined forever alongside Eric Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe.

Allen terrorized quarterbacks and entertained fans for 12 NFL seasons (2004-2015), amassing 136 career sacks — 12th-most all-time — including 22 in a memorable 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings, just 0.5 shy of the all-time single-season record.

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When it was his turn to speak in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday, Allen and his outsized personality delivered once again. He laughed and cried, demonstrated tremendous gratitude, and ultimately pointed everyone to Jesus Christ.

“I’m reminded of what [Vikings chaplain] Tom Lamphere said when we were going through our premarital counseling,” Allen said to his wife, Amy, at the conclusion of his speech, which he gave while wearing a cowboy hat. “He said the two most important decisions you’ll make in life is one, whether you follow Jesus or not, and two is who you marry. There’s only two types of people. There’s boat anchors who drag you down, and there’s people who elevate you, and you are a true game elevator.”

He then addressed his two daughters.

“When I get called home to Heaven one day, if all they talk about is this gold jacket and my career, then I failed miserably as a father, a husband and a friend. You two are my legacy. You are both so talented, and I cannot wait to see what you decide to do to conquer this world,” he said. “So always put Christ first, find your ‘why,’ dream big dreams and always pursue greatness in whatever you do. Thank you all, and may God bless you all.”

“Always put Christ first.”

What a powerful HOF message from Jared Allen on Saturday in Canton. pic.twitter.com/sYVvns0jh6

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) August 3, 2025

A fourth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs out of Idaho State in 2004, Allen is perhaps best known for his five-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings from 2008-13. In Minnesota, he recorded four of his five Pro Bowl selections and three of his four first-team All-Pro selections. He also played briefly for the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.

Allen mentioned God throughout his speech, and he even quoted the Bible passage Philippians 4:11-12 while talking about his father, Ron, who presented him on Saturday.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” — Philippians 4:11-12

Allen’s upbringing on a horse ranch in Morgan Hill, California, instilled in him a lifelong love of ranch life. He rode off into the sunset on a horse to announce his retirement, and his trademark sack celebration mimicked a calf-roping maneuver.

His upbringing was also where his journey of faith began to take shape, as he grew up in the church with parents who introduced him to Christ.

“It just made more sense to love Jesus than it did not to,” Allen said last month on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “I grew up that way.”

Throughout his time in the national spotlight as an NFL star, Allen’s faith continued to develop as the Holy Spirit led him to make small but significant changes in his spiritual practices. He was even named the 2025 Uncommon Award recipient at the Arise with the Guys event, which was founded by Hall of Fame NFL coach Tony Dungy and incorporates the Christian faith. The Uncommon Award is given annually to an upstanding male sports figure who has positively influenced the world.

On the podcast, Allen left listeners with a serious question to consider:

“How do we stop fitting Jesus into our life,” he asked, “and fit our lives into Jesus’ plan?”

“How do we stop fitting Jesus into our lives and start fitting our lives into Jesus’ plan”

Jared Allen, 2025 Pro Football Hall of Famer shared his story on the latest Sports Spectrum podcast. pic.twitter.com/CSiy1YvqdI

— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) July 2, 2025

For Allen, God’s plan for his life was to be an imposing NFL defensive end, an engaging on-field personality and, now, a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Allen knows now perhaps more than ever that all of it was for God’s glory, not his own.

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