From the article attached:
He was named to six Pro Bowls (1989, 1991–1995). He was a First-Team All-Pro nod in 1989 and a Second-Team All-Pro in 1991 and 1993. He has one more interception than Deion Sanders (and 275 more tackles). If Eric Allen isn’t a Hall of Famer, we need to start re-evaluating what it takes to become one."
I watched his career and he was a lock down CB that QBs avoided. What gives?
https://insidetheiggles.com/2021/12/30/eagles-eric-allen-snubbed-hall-fame/
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Chances are he won’t get in cause he hasn’t in so long. I think he was a HoF talent but only having 1X 1st Team selection is probably what’s holding him back.
His career lines up most closely with Ken Riley (when adjusting INTs for era). Riley got in as a senior nominee. That’s how I think Allen gets a shot, after a few others get in before him. Allen begins his senior nominee eligibility in 2026.
So, I understand that analytical comments aren’t always appreciated in threads like these, but I try to make them for those who find value in them.
Simply put, we as Eagles fans tend to view our favorite players through a lens that the rest of the league does not see them. Eric Allen is, simply put, not the kind of DB who would get serious consideration for the HoF (though he will beginning in 2026).
PFF runs what they call the Hall of Fame Monitor scoring system. And when lined up with players who did and did not make it into the HoF, it’s pretty damn accurate. Here’s the source - https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_DB.htm
The average score of a HoF player is 100. For a defensive back, it’s 98 (meaning it’s a littler easier than average for a DB to get in, compared to Center at 103, making it harder for someone like Kelce to get in).
Notable HoF scores:
- Rod Woodson - 177.63 (highest recorded)
- Deion sanders - 171.03 (2nd place)
- Ronnie Lott - 165.95 (3rd)
- Ed Reed - 148.53 (4th, and quite the drop off from the top-3)
- Herb Adderley - 127.38 (5th, and another large drop-off)
- Average HoF DB - 98
- Brian Dawkins - 97.93 (14th)
- Dave Grayson - 82.93 (28th, highest rated HoF eligible DB not elected to the HoF)
- Eric Allen - 60.45 (53rd)
So, that begs the question, how many players rated below Allen have made it to the HoF? Precisely 3:
- Ken Riley - 54.85 (elected this past year, he was a 1st team all pro only once, never a top-tier DB but always in the second tier consistently, resulting in 65 INTs, currently tied for 5th all-time, 4th at time of retirement)
- Emmitt Thomas - 52.85 (inducted 2008, retired 1978)
- Dick LeBeau - 48.20 (inducted in 2010, retired in 1972, HoF induction had nothing to do with his coaching career)
So the only players rated lower than Allen were retired for 30+ years and were senior nominees. Unfortunately, that’s likely to be how Allen gets in as his career trajectory doesn’t line up with most other HoF players.
Do I want him in? Hell yes. Do I think he gets in? Yes, but only when he’s eligible as a senior nominee. That eligibility begins in 2026. So we’re getting there.
Now what’s interesting is Deion’s is so high while Eric Allen’s is so low. Their stats are very similar.