Written by Eric Edholm at YahooSports.com
Peyton Manning has the chance to ride off into the sunset after a Super Bowl victory. The sun has set on Jared Allen’s career, and so he had a little fun with that metaphor on Twitter.
The five-time Pro Bowl defensive end apparently is hanging it up after 12 terrific years in the NFL, and though the Carolina Panthers pass rusher ended it with a loss in the Super Bowl to Manning’s Denver Broncos, Allen got to play on the biggest stage that he always wanted.
He just didn’t get that proverbial sunset. Check out Allen’s hilarious parting video.
Now, THAT’S how you do a retirement announcement. Take that, Manning.
Of course, he did class it up a bit with an official statement through his agent (via Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo):
“I want to take this time to thank my family, friends fans, and teammates who have given their continued support throughout my 12 year career. It’s been a great ride for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the memories. It is with a great deal of thought and consideration, that I have decided that I will not return to football next year. I want to thank the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs organizations, who provided me with an opportunity to live out my dream and to be a part of their wonderful communities. Thanks for the lifelong memories.”
A fourth-round pick out of Idaho State (drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs as much for his long snapping as anything), Allen had a tremendous career with 136 sacks (tied for ninth all time) with the Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and, after an early-season trade in 2015, the Panthers. His career season came in 2011 when Allen posted an amazing 22 sacks and four forced fumbles that was amid a streak of seven straight years with at least 11 sacks.
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