NFL immortalizes four more legends: what to know about the new Hall of Famers
Four more NFL greats were fitted for the iconic yellow jacket on Saturday, as the latest Hall of Fame inductees were officially enshrined.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was officially enshrined Saturday in Canton, Ohio.
Bronze busts of Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, Sterling Sharpe and Eric Allen now stand among the legends of the game. Each of the four inductees received their iconic gold jackets during the ceremony.
Here’s the lowdown on the NFL’s new Hall of Famers:
Antonio Gates
When you think of the path to the NFL and eventually the Hall of Fame, you’d expect a lifetime of football. But Antonio Gates (born June 18, 1980, in Detroit) defied that narrative. The legendary Chargers tight end starred in college basketball for the Kent State Golden Flashes before making the leap to the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2003.
Gates went from an unknown hoops player to the most prolific touchdown-scoring tight end in NFL history, finishing with 116 touchdowns over 16 seasons. An eight-time Pro Bowler, Gates hauled in 955 receptions for 11,841 yards.
Jared Allen
Jared Allen (born April 3, 1982, in Dallas) was a relentless pass rusher who terrorized quarterbacks across two decades. He began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs (2004-2007) before becoming a dominant force with the Minnesota Vikings (2008-2013). Allen later had stints with the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers, retiring after the 2015 season.
He led the NFL in sacks twice (2007 and 2011) and finished his career with 136 total sacks. A four-time First-Team All-Pro (2007–2009, 2011), Allen also holds the record for most safeties in NFL history, recording four.
Eric Allen
Eric Allen (born November 22, 1965, in San Diego) was one of the premier cornerbacks of the 1990s, known for his ball-hawking instincts and playmaking ability. A product of Arizona State, Allen recorded 54 career interceptions, returning eight of them for touchdowns.
Drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1988, Allen spent seven seasons in Philly, earning a spot on the franchise’s 75th Anniversary Team and its Hall of Fame in 2011. He later played for the New Orleans Saints (1995-1997) and the Oakland Raiders (1998-2001), where he shared the field with legends like Charles Woodson.
Sterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe (born April 6, 1965, in Chicago) played seven seasons in the NFL (1988-1994), all with the Green Bay Packers. During a transitional era between run-heavy offenses and the rise of the passing game, Sharpe set individual records that helped redefine the wide receiver position.
In 1992, he broke the single-season receptions record with 108 catches, and topped it the following year with 112 - until Chris Carter surpassed it in 1994. Sharpe’s induction also made history, as he and his brother Shannon Sharpe became the first sibling duo enshrined in Canton.
At the time of his retirement, Sharpe held seven franchise records for the Packers. A three-time First-Team All-Pro (1989, 1992, 1993), he earned five Pro Bowl nods and was named to the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade Team.
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