Jared Allen
A ferocious, mustachioed defensive end who hunted quarterbacks with relentless energy, amassing over 130 career sacks.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American football player and curler·Birthday: April 3·Millennials
Biography
Jared Allen looked the part of a frontier outlaw, and on the football field, he played one. With a flowing mullet and a handlebar mustache, the defensive end was a disruptive force of nature for over a decade in the NFL. Drafted in the fourth round by the Kansas City Chiefs, he quickly shed any underdog status by leading the league in sacks in 2007. His signature 'cowboy' sack celebration, a mock lassoing of his prey, became iconic. Trades to the Minnesota Vikings and later the Chicago Bears showcased his consistent dominance; he was a player who demanded double-teams every Sunday. Off the field, Allen's persona was larger than life, yet his impact was grounded in substantial philanthropy, particularly for military veterans. His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame cemented his status as one of the most recognizable and effective pass rushers of his generation, a player whose effort and style were unmistakably his own.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jared was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jared Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jared's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded 136.0 career sacks, ranking among the top ten in NFL history at the time of his retirement.
- Led the NFL in sacks during the 2007 season with 15.5 while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025, his first year of eligibility.
- Named a First-Team All-Pro four times and selected to the Pro Bowl five times.
Did You Know?
He is an avid curler and competed in the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the sport.
He famously celebrated sacks by pantomiming lassoing a steer, a nod to his cowboy persona.
He played in Super Bowl 50 with the Carolina Panthers at the end of his career.
He founded the Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors charity, which builds and modifies homes for injured veterans.
“I play defensive end. My job is to go hit the quarterback. That's what I do.”
