It's crunch time for the Pro Football Hall of Fame hopefuls as the finalists for the Class of 2024 have been announced, and Minnesota Vikings icon Jared Allen is looking to finally break through. Allen, known for terrorizing quarterbacks, is one of 15 modern-era finalists in his fourth year of Hall of Fame eligibility. The pass-rushing maestro, who has notched 136 career sacks, ranks 12th on the NFL's all-time list, according to Vikings.com.
Allen's exemplary career spanned 12 seasons, with a distinguished stint in Minnesota where he tallied 85.5 sacks in just 96 games. His ferocity on the field translated into four First-Team All-Pro honors, and he’s tied for first in NFL history with four career safeties. His tenacity has yet to fully convince the 50-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, though. They're set to cast their votes before Super Bowl LVIII, narrowing the list to a maximum of five inductees, as reported by Vikings.com.
As the selection process heats up, other first-time candidates drawing attention include the basketball-turned-football stars, Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates. They, along with the rest of the finalists, will be awaiting the panel's decision – a tense time as each is vying to secure at least 80% of the votes needed for induction, as per CBS News Minnesota.
All eyes will also be on the other prolific candidates like Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, and Andre Johnson, wide receivers who redefined their positions and are also in the running. The class of 2024 will be revealed at the NFL Honors show on February 8, in Las Vegas – a date surely circled in red on the calendars of these hopefuls, in accordance with CBS News Minnesota.
