How the Vikings’ Jared Allen, the only Hall of Famer to ever wear No. 69, ended up with that number

Reporters covering Jared Allens six-year contract with the Vikings back in 2008 often rounded up to $73.3 million, a record for a defensive player at the time.

The actual total, per Allens well-crafted sense of humor, was $73,260,069.

The 69 bucks that Allen had his agent, Ken Harris, tack on was an ode to Allens jersey number, which the defensive end wore for 12 NFL seasons as an example of his throwback mentality and a playful personality that laughed at the risque double entendre.

Guess what? Twenty-one years after the Chiefs handed him that odd number, Allen will become the first of 382 Pro Football Hall of Famers to have worn No.

69 when he enters the Canton, Ohio, shrine with the Class of 2025 in late July.

Nice! Allen texted Tuesday afternoon, a couple of hours after taking Twin Cities reporters on a laugh-filled 36-minute joy ride news conference through his memories of a 12-year career that saw him post three of his four first-team All-Pro seasons and 8512 of his 136 sacks in six seasons with the Vikings.

Lets start with how the greatest NFL player to ever wear No.

69 ended up with that number.

Allen wore No.

1 at Los Gatos High School in California and No.

45 at Division I-AA Idaho State to honor his best friend, who had died in high school.

[The Chiefs] gave me 69, an O-lineman number, and I was, Great, theyre definitely cutting me, said Allen, a fourth-round draft pick whose skill as a long-snapper played as big a role as any in the Chiefs selecting him.

The Chiefs had another player in camp wearing No.

69.

A fat O-lineman, Allen remembers.

I said, We cant both make it.

I cant get cut for this guy.

Allen survived the final cuts.

The fat O-lineman did not.

Our equipment guy asked, Do you want a 90s number now? Allen said.

Before Allen could answer, Chiefs defensive line coach Bob Karmelowicz, Allens first NFL mentor, talked him out of changing numbers.

Bob, he had this raspy voice, and he says, Youre an old-school player.

Thats an old-school number.

You keep it and make it cool, Allen said.

I said all right.

I just wanted to play.

Next thing you know, it stuck.

And, according to the Hall of Fames website, Allens enshrinement will leave only one number between 00 and 99 not represented No.

90.

Allens love of NFL history and respect for the great Vikings and other players who came before him oozed as he spoke about the Hall of Famers hes already met and the ones he hopes to meet, such as career sack king Bruce Smith, when this years class takes center stage in Canton this summer.

You dont come into this league playing for a gold jacket, Allen said of the Hall of Fames signature prize.

You play for the respect of your peers.

I got an email one time from [Hall of Famer] Jack Youngblood.

It was very brief.

I dont even know how he got my email.

He must be in the CIA or something.

He just thanked me for playing the game the right way.

That right there, Im good.

I dont need Pro Bowls.

I want to honor those who did it the right way before me.

And I hope one day some kid will try to do the same thing..

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