Ex-Raiders great makes final cut for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Allen, also a finalist last year, spent his final four seasons with the Raiders in Oakland from 1998 until 2001.

“Obviously, it would be a great honor,” Allen said late Saturday by phone. “I think I’m in a really good spot this time.”

Allen played in 58 games with the Raiders and returned three of his 15 interceptions with the organization for touchdowns.

The 59-year-old San Diego native still works with the organization as a broadcaster and frequently appears at alumni events.

Allen spent his first seven seasons with the Eagles before a three-year stop in New Orleans.

He made six Pro Bowls and had 54 career interceptions.

“It’s affirmation for all those nights and days when you’re studying and no one else is around and you’re just trying to figure out a way to be successful, a way to stop (wide receivers) Jerry Rice or Michael Irvin,” Allen said.

Allen will have one more chance through the modern-era selection process if he doesn’t make the Hall of Fame this year. Players are eligible for a 20-year span.

He plans to put some of the lessons he has learned from the times he has fallen short to use this time around.

“If you have experience and don’t do anything with it, what good is the experience?” Allen said.

Allen has seen lobbying efforts rally support behind other players in the past. So he won’t be shy about taking full advantage of his connections around the league.

That includes his former coach and good friend Jon Gruden, who has suddenly become a major social media star.

“Hopefully some of those voices are able to offer context about my game and who I am to people who don’t know me or haven’t seen me play and provide the layers to what I was able to do,” Allen said.

Allen believes his case is helped by the fact that there aren’t any other true cover corners up for induction this year.

Four to eight players will be selected for induction during Super Bowl week in New Orleans. The Hall of Fame class will be announced Feb. 6 and enshrined in August.

Allen admitted he has been thinking about what the moment would be like if he does get the call. He knows what it would mean to his four sons and his wife, who he has been with since high school. There are also countless others who have helped him along the way.

“This would be an opportunity for me to provide the fan base with all those names who helped me get to this spot,” Allen said. “Whatever I did, I did. Make it or not, I was a really good football player and every Sunday I was able to perform and had a great time and a great impact and mentored tons of players. I’ll always have that. But if I don’t make it, the other people who were behind me will never get the opportunity to get their flowers and shine. That’s the ones I really think about.”

Former Raiders guard Steve Wisniewski was also a semifinalist, but was not named among the 15 finalists.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.