Jared Allen has ridden off into the sunset.
After a remarkable 12-year career, one of the best pass-rushers in NFL history has announced his retirement.
Allen took to Twitter Thursday morning to literally ride off into the sunset:
“Well, everyone, I just want to say thank you for an amazing 12-year career,” Allen said. “This was the part where I was going to ride off into the sunset, but seeing as how there’s no sunset, I’m just going to ride off.”
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Allen, a fourth-round pick out of Idaho State by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004, retires after a remarkable 12-year career with the Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Bears and Carolina Panthers in which he garnered five Pro Bowl selections and four first-team All-Pro honors.
NFL
The 33-year-old Allen led the NFL in sacks with the Vikings in both 2007 and 2011 and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.
Allen retires tied with Green Bay Packers linebacker Julius peppers for ninth in NFL history with 136-career sacks.