Latest news with #JaredAllen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stars who suited up for the Bears past their prime
When I was bumbling around on Twitter/X the other day, I came across this one tweet that caught my eye. Celtics Shaq. That one Kevin Garnett Brooklyn Nets edit to 'Outstanding' by The Gap Band. However you want to refer to it, it's a term that refers to a big-name athlete playing for a new team past their prime. I was thinking about responding to this tweet, but I couldn't decide on just one person to pick for the Bears. When you're the oldest team in the NFL, you're going to have your fair share of big names on the roster, even if those big names weren't all in their prime when they played for Chicago. As a fun trip down memory lane before the new season, here are a few former Chicago Bears players in the 21st century with tremendous peaks who suited up for the team past their prime. DE Jared Allen When the Bears signed Jared Allen to a four-year deal in 2014, expectations were very high. He was just coming off of an 11.5-sack season in Minnesota, and he had reached a double-digit sack total in seven consecutive seasons to that point. Considering how bad Chicago's defense was in 2013, Allen was meant to serve as a major upgrade for their pass rush. Unfortunately, things didn't play out the way either side had hoped. Allen dealt with a bout of pneumonia early in the season that saw him lose 18 pounds. That surely put a damper on his level of play, and he finished the year with 5.5 sacks. That had been the lowest total of his career to that point. Once the Bears changed from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 in 2015, the writing was on the wall. Allen played three games in 2015 and got traded to Carolina soon after. He joked about his stint in Chicago during his Hall of Fame induction speech recently, so there are clearly no hard feelings. Given how tremendous his career was and given his recent enshrinement into Canton, I like to think that things ended up okay for him in the end. WR Santonio Holmes Perhaps best known as the Steelers' savior in their Super Bowl XLIII victory, Santonio Holmes made quite the name for himself for his stellar play in Pittsburgh. After spending four years there and another four years with the Jets, Holmes signed a one-year contract with the Bears in 2014. At that time, they had a dominant wide receiver duo in Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall but lacked a formidable third wide receiver. The hope was that Holmes could provide that stability, even if his numbers weren't as strong at that stage as they were in his prime. He ended up starting early in the season but slowly saw his role cut down, playing in just nine games before he was released. He ended the year with just eight receptions for 67 yards. WR Victor Cruz Victor Cruz was one of the best feel-good stories in the NFL in the early 2010s. An undrafted free agent out of UMass, Cruz signed with the Giants in 2010 and became an All-Pro wide receiver in just his second year in the league. He finished 2011 with 82 catches for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns, and he followed that up with a combined 2,090 receiving yards the following two seasons. However, a torn patellar tendon in 2014 ended Cruz's season six games into the year, and an aggravation of that injury leading up to 2015 saw him miss the entirety of that year, too. He would return to the Giants' starting lineup in 2016, but by that point, the injury had slowed him down. He signed with the Bears in 2017, being expected to compete for a roster spot on a team that was thin at the wide receiver position. In the end, Cruz wouldn't end up making it through the preseason. Fun fact: I saw Cruz perform his signature salsa dance celebration when he scored a touchdown at Family Fest in 2017. That was cool to witness in a Bears uniform. RB Lamar Miller Throughout the 2010s, Lamar Miller was one of the more consistent backs in the NFL. He surpassed 850 rushing yards every year from 2014 to 2018, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark twice in that span. Between stints in Miami and Houston, he was a starting NFL back for much of the decade. That changed after a torn ACL in the preseason ended his 2019 season. Miller was 29 years old in 2020, which is young for any normal person but may as well be 105 for a running back. Coming off the injury, he signed with the Patriots but didn't make the 53-man roster. The Bears signed him to their practice squad soon after, activating him in Week 10 when David Montgomery got hurt. Miller caught two passes for six yards in his lone game as a Bear. He reverted back to the practice squad after that week, and Washington signed him to their 53-man roster off Chicago's practice squad a few weeks later. OT Orlando Pace Orlando Pace will go down as one of the most prolific offensive linemen from his era. A seven-time Pro Bowler and a starter of 154 games in 12 seasons with the St. Louis Rams, Pace was the blindside protector for the Greatest Show on Turf. By 2009, his status as a future Hall of Famer was already set in stone for his working protecting Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger. However, he signed a three-year deal with the Bears to give new quarterback Jay Cutler an experience offensive lineman up front. Pace started off the 2009 season as Chicago's starting left tackle, a role he held for 11 games before getting hurt. He turned 34 years old that season, and his age had been showing throughout the season. Granted, season-ending injuries in 2006 and 2007 with the Rams played a role in accelerating that timeline. When Pace returned from injury, Chris Williams took his spot in Chicago's starting lineup. Honorable mention for this goes to Jason Peters, who started in 15 games for the Bears in 2021 and performed admirably well for a 39-year-old lineman. S Antrell Rolle In 2015, the Bears hired Ryan Pace as their new general manager. One of his big projects was the rebuilding of a lackluster defense. Some additions like Eddie Goldman and Adrian Amos helped significantly. Others like Pernell McPhee showed mixed results. Then, there was Antrel Rolle, who was initially expected to play a major role in Chicago's secondary. Rolle was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro known for his tremendous ball skills. Just two years before, he was an All-Pro safety with six interceptions for the Giants in 2013. However, Rolle dealt with a sprained ankle that forced him to miss a few games in 2015 before returning and suffered a season-ending MCL sprain just two games later. QB Kordell Stewart Before Ben Roethlisberger, there was Kordell Stewart. The latter served as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback from 1997 to 2001, starting a handful of games in 2002, as well. He went 46-29 as the Steelers' starter, making the Pro Bowl in 2001. He was an elite athlete at the quarterback position who was arguably ahead of his time, seeing as though mobility is now a bigger priority for quarterbacks these days. Stewart fell back down to Earth in 2002 and got benched in favor of Tommy Maddox. The Bears signed Stewart in 2003 and kicked off the year with him as their starting quarterback. He was eventually benched twice: once for Chris Chandler early in the year, and once for Rex Grossman later down the stretch. Stewart went 2-5 as Chicago's starter, finishing with just a 50.2% completion percentage and only seven passing touchdowns to 12 interceptions. The kickers Before Robbie Gould and during that period between him and Cairo Santos, the Bears had plenty of instability at the kicker position in the 21st century. Here are just a few kickers Chicago had suit up for them past their prime: Jay Feely: At 38 years old, Feely signed with the Bears in 2014 when Gould injured his quad. Feely played in four games, going 3-for-4 on field goal attempts and 5-for-6 on extra points. He had been a 14-year veteran at that point, and considering how bad the 2014 season was for Chicago, I wouldn't blame fans for blocking that year out entirely. Doug Brien: Brien was a 12-year veteran and a Super Bowl champion kicker in 2005, having been signed by the Bears to be their replacement for Paul Edinger. He played in three games that year, going a brutal 1-for-4 on field goal attempts. He suffered an injury in Week 3, upon which Chicago signed Gould in free agency. The rest is history. Mike Nugent: The Bears went through three kickers in 2017. Connor Barth kicked off the year as the starter, but he got cut after a 68.8% field goal percentage that year, including a missed would-be game-winner the day before his release. Chicago brought in Cairo Santos, but he got hurt. Soon after, Nugent was the kicker they ended up with. He was a 13-year veteran at that point and played in just four games for the Bears, going 4-for-4 on field goals and 7-for-9 on PATs. Olindo Mare: Gould suffered another injury in 2012, straining his left calf and missing the final three games of the year. He was replaced by Mare, who was 39 at the time and had been an NFL starting kicker since 1997. Mare went 6-for-8 on field goal tries and made all seven on his PAT attempts. He beat out Billy Cundiff and Neil Rackers for the opportunity, both of whom being tremendous choices for this list if either of them won the tryout competition.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jared Allen's pants rip during signature sack celebration at Hall of Fame event, breaks the internet
Jared Allen faces a wardrobe malfunction during his sack celebration at the Hall of Fame. NFL Hall of Fame weekend brought plenty of emotional moments, but Jared Allen managed to deliver both tears and laughs! The former defensive end – known as much for his relentless pass rush and his bold personality – was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 2, capping off a career that spanned a whopping 12 NFL seasons and four teams. But it was his unplanned post-ceremony move the night before that sparked headlines and went viral on social media: Allen accidentally ripped his pants while busting out his iconic sack celebration at the Gold Jacket Dinner in Canton, Ohio! A celebration that didn't go quite as planned for Jared Allen The 43-year-old NFL great couldn't resist the urge to go out with one last signature celebration. As he came off stage after receiving his gold jacket, Allen dropped into his trademark sack move – only to split his pants in front of the crowd. 'You know, I got caught up in the moment on Friday night during the Gold Jacket Dinner. I was coming off the stage and decided to do my signature sack celebration one last time,' Allen told Fox and Friends, adding with a laugh, 'I should've listened' [to his wife, Amy]. 'She was like, 'What were you thinking, those are fitted pants! You know that's not going to work for you!'' he recalled. Watch the video below: Jared Allen talks about his 'Why' and honors family during emotional speech The former Kansas City Chiefs draft pick – who also suited up for the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers – was the first among this year's Hall of Fame class to speak on stage at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Wearing his signature cowboy hat, Allen used his time to reflect on what drove him throughout his NFL career. 'Why is what makes you different; it's your long game,' he said. 'It's the motivation that drives you to do all necessary action steps to achieve your goal. My why can be summed up in three things: fear, respect and the pursuit of greatness.' He added that his "why" goes beyond the football field. 'I apply my why to everything in my life. To my walk with Christ, my marriage and being a father.' Jared Allen's message to daughters Brinley and Lakelyn 'Through this process, the word legacy has been talked about a lot... The Hall often says they're here to tell my story,' he said. 'Well, I'm here to tell you two, you are my greatest accomplishments.' He added, 'When I get called home to heaven one day, if all they talk about is this gold jacket, my career, then I failed miserably as a father, a husband and a friend.' 'You two are my legacy,' Allen concluded. 'You are both so talented, and I cannot wait to see what you both decide to do and to conquer this world. So always put Christ first, find your why, dream big dreams and always pursue greatness in whatever you do.' Also read : Josh Allen states his fourth wish–and it's not Hailee Steinfeld Drafted in the fourth round in 2004, Allen became one of the most feared edge rushers in the league. He finished his career with 136.0 sacks — good for 12th-most in NFL history since sacks became an official stat in 1982 — and made five Pro Bowls. He announced his retirement from the NFL on February 18, 2016. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Fox News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Hall of Famer Jared Allen puts family above football success in heartfelt Canton speech
Pro Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen joined "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday morning to reflect on the emotional speech he delivered during his enshrinement ceremony, where he paid tribute to his Christian faith, his wife, and his daughters — making clear that life's true priorities extend far beyond football. "That's what my life's always been about. It's how I was raised. [They're] the most important things to me," he told co-hosts Ainsley Earhardt, Lawrence Jones and Charlie Hurt. Over the weekend, the former Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs star was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, where he spoke movingly of his "walk with Christ" and addressed his wife and daughters directly. To his wife Amy, he said, "I am in awe of you every single day, and I love you more than life itself." To his daughters, Brinley and Lakelyn, he said: "You two are my greatest accomplishments. 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." Allen said he never expected his heartfelt speech to have the impact it did, adding that he was trying to make some people laugh at points and give a good message to his children at others. "The Bible tells us, you look at when Paul and Peter were in front of the Sanhedrin, and God said, 'Don't worry about what they say, I'll give you the word.' So for me, I was just trying to deliver a heartfelt speech to my family and my friends and my teammates and just let people know what I was about," he continued on Tuesday. Allen's wife and daughters appreciated his shout-outs in the moment, but he hopes the message resonates even more deeply as the girls grow older. "I'm hoping… they continue to look back on those moments and understand how to achieve greatness in whatever you do, not just athletics. I always tell my kids, you've just got to find your passion. You've got to chase it. Figure out what your purpose is and go after it with a full head of steam, and that's all I really want for them, so I hope that's what they take from it."
Fox News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Jared Allen reacts to wardrobe malfunction during Hall of Fame celebration: 'Should've listened to my wife'
Newly-minted Pro Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen tried to do his sack dance one last time on Friday night during the gold jacket dinner, but his pants didn't cooperate. Allen, 43, was on stage with his family when he did his sack celebration: going down to a knee and then gesturing out with his hands. The Minnesota Vikings great stood up, grabbed the back of his leg and realized he had ripped his pants. Days later, Allen reacted to the incident, explaining that he simply got "caught up in the moment." "I got caught up in the moment on Friday night during the gold jacket dinner and was coming off the stage and decided to do my sack celebration one last time, and I should've listened to my wife," Allen said during a Tuesday appearance on "Fox & Friends." "I came off the stage, and she's like, 'What are you thinking? Those are fitted pants, you know that's not going to work for you.'" The rip in Allen's pants stretched from his rear to near the back of his kneecap. Allen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame alongside Sterling Sharpe, Eric Allen and Antonio Gates. In his 12-year career, Allen played for four teams. He spent six seasons with the Vikings, four with the Kansas City Chiefs, parts of two seasons with the Chicago Bears, and part of a season with the Carolina Panthers. The Chiefs selected Allen in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Idaho State. In 187 career games, the five-time Pro Bowler had 648 combined tackles with 136 sacks, six interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 32 forced fumbles and 19 fumbles recovered, and he holds the NFL's all-time record with four safeties. Allen led the NFL in sacks twice, with 15.5 in 2007 and 22 in 2011.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Chiefs QB Alex Smith is first-time eligible for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Kansas City Chiefs had former draft pick Jared Allen earn enshrinement into the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame this past weekend. There is an opportunity for another legendary former Chiefs star to gain access in 2026 with first-time eligible Alex Smith. Smith, alongside several notable names, was announced as a first-time eligible player for next year's Hall of Fame. The former top overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft earned three Pro Bowl appearances in Kansas City and ended his career in 2020 triumphantly after overcoming a life-threatening injury. He was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in his final season with Washington. The Chiefs traded for Smith in the 2013 offseason, and Andy Reid named him the starter shortly after he took over as head coach. In five seasons as the starter in Kansas City, Smith won 50 games and threw for over 17,000 yards and 102 touchdowns against 33 interceptions. The list of other players first time eligible includes one Chiefs running back, LeSean McCoy, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten, Frank Gore, Philip Rivers, Maurkice Pouncey, Todd Gurley, Dez Bryant, Julian Edelman, Thomas Davis, Mike Iupati, Geno Atkins, and Jurrell Casey.
