Eric Allen enters the temple of fame with a sincere tribute to the roots of the Eagles Originally appeared on Sports Athlon.
The voice of Eric Allen fell in love with emotion when he was standing in front of more than 100 renowned temple at the Tom Benson stadium from Tom Benson de Canton on Saturday, finally realizing the honor that had escaped him for almost a quarter of a century. His speech of enthronement of 17 minutes was a masterclass at gratitude, weaving family stories, mentoring and the team of the Eagles of Philadelphia which defined his career.
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“My football trip began south-east of San Diego, my grandmother’s house,” started Allen, painting an image of life on the 42nd and Ocean View. “My grandmother was a beautiful woman, inside and outside. Always a nice word in difficult situations. And her famous lemon cake on the stove after a good match.”
Allen attributed to his brother Craig as his foundation: “My first coach and professor, mentor and hero was my older brother Craig. Craig carried me … his time with me, his ability to understand what I had to do to succeed, he flocked in me his time … This is one of the great reasons for which I stand here today.”
When Allen reached his Eagles years, the emotion was palpable.
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“Thank you to the legend Buddy Ryan for writing me in 1988,” he said thunderous applause of the Philadelphia contingent. “It was an honor to wear these Kelly Greens and represent the city of fraternal love.”
The description by Allen of these defenses of the dominant Eagles was filled with reverence. “Whether Buddy’s Boys or Bud Carson’s Gang Green, we did so much damage on the football field, all the guys from us.
These are the years when Allen built his curriculum vitae of the renowned temple, recording 34 interceptions during his seven seasons in Philadelphia to equalize the franchise record with Brian Dawkins and Bill Bradley. His 54 career interceptions, which nine returned for affected, placed him among an elite group of only three cornerbacks in the history of the NFL to make these figures – alongside Asante Samuel and Deion Sanders.
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The most poignant moment has come when Allen thought about his personal growth during these seven seasons:
“I grew up there in Philadelphia with the help of guys like Mike Quick, Roynell Young. I became a man there, and I know that my wife is very excited about it.”
Despite the leaving Philadelphia in 1994, Allen recognized the current organization of the Eagles: “Jeffrey Lurie is not here today, but I want to have a particular gratitude to the organization of the Eagles of Philadelphia and a formidable football team that they put on the football field this year. I mean the fly, the eagles, the fly.”
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The highlighting point came when Allen spoke to his four sons individually. In Austin, his presenter: “My eldest son Austin is a super positive and talented man.”
In Hunter, “as a young father, you have sacrificed a lot … You are a man in principle, a man of action.”
Jordan may have received the most emotional tribute, “the best family football player. I was struck with so much adversity, pain. But you were able to achieve it with flying colors.” And to his youngest, Noah: “It was a premature man born under a book. He could adapt just to my hand, but he saw life as if he measures eight feet high.”
Allen’s tribute to his wife, Leymarie, provided one of the tender moments in speech. “You are perfect in my eyes. No word can express how much you mean for me and the family. For every time I forgot to say that I love you and you are beautiful – I love you and you are beautiful. You had the back of the first day – 15 years.”
The speech ended with Allen opening his heart and home to his extended family and reflecting on his trip. “Football calls everything you have,” said Allen. “And that’s what I tried to give it.”
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Related: The legend of the franchise says that the change in culture of Eagles could lead to rehearsal
Related: Warning of the Eagles concerning the suitors for the NFC
This story was initially reported by Sports Athlon On August 9, 2025, where he appeared for the first time.
