Terry Allen (football player)
Encyclopedia
Terry Thomas Allen, Jr. (born February 21, 1968 in Commerce
, Georgia
) is a former American football
running back
in the National Football League
. In the 1990 NFL Draft
he was selected in the ninth round by the Minnesota Vikings
.
. The next year, the Vikings got rid of Walker and Allen was named the starter. That year, he ran for 1,201 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 49 passes for 478 yards and 2 touchdowns. In the summer of 1993, Allen tore his ACL in practice and was out the whole 1993 season. In 1994, Allen returned. Despite dealing with two bad ACL's, he was able to amass 1,031 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. However, due to the artificial turf tearing up his knees, he then decided it was time to go.
and wasting no time in his first year, he ran for 1,309 yards with 10 rushing touchdowns. During the 1996 season
, his second with the Redskins, he gathered 21 rushing touchdowns; only 9 other running backs ever rushed for over 20 touchdowns in a single season. He also had another career best in the 1996 season; besides 21 rushing touchdowns, he ran for 1,353 yards, which earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl
. After the 1996 season, he played with Washington for only two more seasons and ran for 700 or more yards in each season.
In July 1997, Allen was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and fleeing the police at high speed before crashing his sports car into a peach tree in Atlanta, Georgia.
, he played for the New England Patriots
, where he ran for nearly 900 yards with 8 rushing touchdowns.
in 2000
, when he was forced into action after starting RB Ricky Williams
broke his ankle.
signed him to a one year deal due to losing Jamal Lewis
for the season.
Commerce, Georgia
Commerce is a city in Jackson County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,544.-Geography:Commerce is located at ....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. In the 1990 NFL Draft
1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
he was selected in the ninth round by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
Minnesota Vikings
His rookie year, he was the second string running back behind Herschel WalkerHerschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
. The next year, the Vikings got rid of Walker and Allen was named the starter. That year, he ran for 1,201 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 49 passes for 478 yards and 2 touchdowns. In the summer of 1993, Allen tore his ACL in practice and was out the whole 1993 season. In 1994, Allen returned. Despite dealing with two bad ACL's, he was able to amass 1,031 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. However, due to the artificial turf tearing up his knees, he then decided it was time to go.
Washington Redskins
After Minnesota, he joined the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and wasting no time in his first year, he ran for 1,309 yards with 10 rushing touchdowns. During the 1996 season
1996 Washington Redskins season
The 1996 Washington Redskins season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record from 1995. This was the Redskins' last season playing at RFK Stadium, where they had played since 1961.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-References:...
, his second with the Redskins, he gathered 21 rushing touchdowns; only 9 other running backs ever rushed for over 20 touchdowns in a single season. He also had another career best in the 1996 season; besides 21 rushing touchdowns, he ran for 1,353 yards, which earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
. After the 1996 season, he played with Washington for only two more seasons and ran for 700 or more yards in each season.
In July 1997, Allen was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and fleeing the police at high speed before crashing his sports car into a peach tree in Atlanta, Georgia.
New England Patriots
In 19991999 New England Patriots season
The 1999 New England Patriots season was the 30th season for the team in the National Football League and 40th season overall. They finished with a 8–8 record, tied for fourth place in the division, and out of the playoffs....
, he played for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, where he ran for nearly 900 yards with 8 rushing touchdowns.
New Orleans Saints
He had the worst season of his career with the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in 2000
2000 New Orleans Saints season
The 2000 New Orleans Saints season saw the Saints win their first ever playoff game. On February 3, Jim Haslett was named the thirteenth head coach in franchise history.-Staff:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Rushing: -Receiving: -Sacks: -Interceptions:...
, when he was forced into action after starting RB Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
broke his ankle.
Baltimore Ravens
Even though he had a subpar season with the Saints, in 2001 the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
signed him to a one year deal due to losing Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
for the season.