Little did Jared Allen know when he arrived at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday that his name will be on display when he next returns.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell invited the former star defensive end to speak to the team following a practice at the stadium after he had flown in from his home in Nashville, Tenn., for a Salvation Army event on Friday night and Saturday. When his talk concluded, a video was shown of Allen highlights on the scoreboard, and then it came up that he would be a 2022 inductee into the Vikings Ring of Honor.
“He did give a great message, and then we surprised him with that,’’ said Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf.
The ceremony will be held at halftime of Minnesota’s Oct. 30 game against Arizona, and Allen’s name and No. 69 will unveiled at U.S. Bank Stadium. He becomes the 27th member of the Ring of Honor.
Allen played in the NFL from 2004-15, including 2008-13 with the Vikings. He had three of his four first-team All-Pro selections, made five of his six Pro Bowls and had 85½ of his 136 career sacks with the Vikings.
“He’s a special player in Vikings history and now and forever, he’ll be a Viking legend in our Ring of Honor,’’ said Wilf, whose family bought the team in 2005. “It’s really well-deserved, and he’s someone really special in our organization and our history as ownership, and for the fans as well.”
Allen, who left the stadium after talking to the team, will follow his good friend and former teammate Kevin Williams into the Ring of Honor. Williams, a Vikings defensive tackle from 2003-13, was inducted last year, and he joked in a phone interview that he has “a one up on” Allen.
“That’s my guy,” Williams said. “It’s awfully nice a guy you consider your brother being honored. I think it’s well-deserved.”
As for the Oct. 30 ceremony, Williams said, “I’m pretty sure you’ll see me there with bells on.”
Only two players remain from when Allen last played for the Vikings in 2013. Safety Harrison Smith was then in his second season, and wide receiver Adam Thielen was then a rookie on the practice squad.
“It’s pretty cool,’’ said Thielen, a native of Detroit Lakes who played at Minnesota State Mankato. “Obviously, super happy for him. Being a teammate of his and seeing the type of player he was day in and day out, and seeing on Sundays what he was doing. Then before that growing up and watching him, seeing him play for a few years before I played with him. He’s a special football player. Then, obviously, I must be getting old if the guys I’m playing with are going into the Ring of Honor.”
Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith also grew up watching Allen. Smith, a native of Montgomery, Ala., who entered the NFL during Allen’s final season in 2015, liked to watch Allen rush the passer. When he had a sack, he would celebrate with a dance that mimicked a calf roper.
“A crazy bull rush,’’ Smith said. “Just on the edge each and every play. When they really needed him he came through.”
Smith liked the message Allen gave to the team about the need to have a passion for football.
“He talked about, ‘What’s your purpose? Is it family? Is it money? What is it really?’ ’’ Smith said.
Allen has been outspoken about saying he was immature when he first entered the NFL, playing for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-07. Allen was charged with three DUIs and served a two-game NFL suspension to start the 2007 season.
Because of those issues, the Chiefs traded Allen to the Vikings in 2008 for a first-round pick and two third-round selections. Minnesota signed him to a new six-year, $73.5 million deal, the richest at the time for a defensive player.
“I remember like any trade, there’s nerves and anxiousness,’’ Wilf said. “But we gave up some picks for him and it was a lot of discussion about it, but it turned out to be one of the best things we did as ownership and in this franchise history to get a player of his level here.”
While with the Vikings in 2009, the star player started the nonprofit organization Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors. It raises money to build or modify homes for injured veterans.
“His support for military veterans is something we really feel strong about as well,” Wilf said. “Just great to have him here and great to have him in the Ring of Honor.”
