Honoring All-time Greats: PFRPA Members Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

On Saturday, August 2, four retired NFL players were recognized with football’s highest honor as they were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 during a memorable ceremony in Canton, Ohio. 

The four inductees into the Class of 2025 are:

Among this list of outstanding retired NFL players are three PFRPA members: Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe.

Eric Allen played 14 seasons in the NFL between 1988 and 2001 with the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders, making a name for himself as one of the game’s elite cornerbacks with exceptional durability. He tied the Eagles’ all-time interceptions record with 34 during his seven years in Philadelphia, including a record-setting 1993 season in which he returned four interceptions for touchdowns. 

Allen played three strong seasons with the Saints before revitalizing his career with the Raiders. Over his final four playing years, he logged 15 interceptions and completed his NFL career with 54 interceptions (tied for 21st in NFL history), eight interception-return touchdowns, four postseason picks and nine total defensive touchdowns. 

His impressive list of career accolades includes:

Eric Allen’s recent enshrinement makes him the first cornerback in Eagles franchise history to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer and PFRPA Board Member Mike Haynes recently congratulated Allen in a letter upon his enshrinement.

Jared Allen played 12 seasons in the NFL from 2004-2015 for the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers. A fourth-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Allen quickly proved his value by starting in 10 of 15 games during his rookie season and earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Allen led the NFL in sacks twice in his career, first doing so in the 2007 season with the Chiefs and again in 2011 with the Vikings. 

Other career accolades for Allen include:

In 2010, Allen was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings during the Vikings 50th anniversary season. Additionally, Allen was inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2022. Now, with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Allen’s legacy as one of the most accomplished defensive ends of his era is forever cemented.

Sterling Sharpe played his entire NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, spanning seven seasons from 1988-1994. Known as a physical receiver with exceptional hands, Sharpe thrived on making tough, contested catches over the middle of the field.

Selected seventh overall in the 1988 NFL Draft, Sharpe made an immediate impact on the team during his rookie season, starting in all 16 games and finishing the year with 55 receptions. In his sophomore season, Sharpe led the NFL with 90 receptions, breaking the Packers’ single-season receptions record that had stood since 1945. Sharpe went on to lead the NFL in receptions two more times in his career in 1992 and 1993. 

His notable career accolades include:

In 2002, Sharpe was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. His dominance during his playing years earned him a lasting place among the NFL’s all-time great wide receivers.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2025, including PFRPA Members Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe. These remarkable inductees have left a lasting impact on the game and the entire football community.