Vikings Okey Doke Jared Allen with Ring of Honor Surprise

Team to formally induct former defensive end into Ring of Honor during halftime ceremony at Vikings-Cardinals game Sunday, Oct. 30

Jul 29, 2022 at 04:28 PM

MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings rounded up Jared Allen Friday to have the defensive end speak to the whole team after Minnesota's stadium practice.

Then the cowboy got the ol' okey doke.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell directed everyone's attention to the video board for highlights from Allen's time in Purple. The reel of sacks concluded with a custom graphic that announced Allen's 2022 induction to the Vikings Ring of Honor.

"You're looking at the 27th member of the Vikings Ring of Honor," O'Connell said as the video concluded.

Allen stood stunned by the news for a second before a wide grin overtook his face. The shock resounded as he let out a laugh, hugged O'Connell, removed his ball cap and ran his left hand over his head until it reached his flowing mullet.

Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf and Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf each congratulated the All-Pro and Vikings single-season sacks record holder (22 in 2011) on joining the Vikings Ring of Honor.

A ceremony will be held at halftime of Minnesota's Week 8 game against Arizona on Oct. 30.

Before that, however, Allen is scheduled to attend Minnesota's practice Saturday at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, which will be the first of 2022 Vikings Training Camp that is open to fans.

"Good to see Jared again, and we're excited he's going to be part of the Ring of Honor coming up here this fall. That's really special," Wilf told members of the media. "He's a special player in Vikings history, and now and forever, he'll be a Vikings Legend in our Ring of Honor."

Wilf said the Vikings organization appreciates Allen's accomplishments on the field and off.

"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."

The Vikings acquired Allen in a trade with Kansas City that sent four picks (a first-round, two thirds and a sixth) to the Chiefs in exchange for Allen and a sixth-round selection used to pick John Sullivan.

Beyond bumping up the facial hair game of the Vikings, the move paid immediately in 2008 with Allen ripping through offensive linemen for 14.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons, helping the Vikings win back-to-back division crowns. Sullivan became the starting center in 2009 when Minnesota advanced all the way to the NFC Championship.

"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's history. Our first two seasons out of the block, we won the division. So, he made a big impact right away and we're fortunate it worked out."

Vikings receiver Adam Thielen joined Minnesota's practice squad in 2013, overlapping with Allen's sixth and final season in Minnesota.

Asked what aspect of Allen's personality or approach as a player has stuck with him over the years, Thielen noted Allen's energy.

"I've always tried to emulate that, whether in meetings or the locker room, on the field. He brought it every single day," Thielen said. "He was a fun guy to be around because of the energy, always joking around, messing around, but when it was game time, he was going. He was still messing around a little bit, but when that ball was snapped, it was a different guy."

Allen's impact went well beyond the Vikings locker room.

New outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith, a fourth-round pick by Baltimore out of Kentucky in 2015, said he had watched Allen from afar.

"Just a dog, man. A crazy bull rush. Just on the edge each and every play. When they really needed him, he came through," Smith said. "I forgot which game it was, but it was the fourth quarter and they needed a sack really bad, and he was the one that made the play. I think the commentators were talking about him, like, 'They need a big play here.' And he was the one that delivered on that play."

Smith had a front-row seat Friday for Allen's message to the team about purpose.

" 'What's your purpose? Is it family? Is it money? What is it really?' When he brought up the money part, a lot of people get the money and want to quit after that," Smith said. "I look at it differently. I was a guy that came in, played one year of high school football, got a little taste of the money, but I'm still here today wanting to play football because I love the game and it's in my heart, man. That message that he just said meant so much to me. I felt like I was a part of that because I really love this game of football."

Allen also told this year's Vikings what he believed to be the keys to a successful team.

"Every good team I've been on has been leadership from the locker room, a good mix of vets and young guys, but the one common, core thread we had, everybody was self-motivated," Allen said.