After coming so close for so many years, Jared Allen can finally jump on his horse and ride to Canton. The Vikings legendary pass rusher finally heard his name on Thursday be officially tied to

Jared Allen closed in on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler on a sack in 2013. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, Eric Allen and Sterling Sharpe are among the smallest Pro Football Hall of Fame class in 20 years due to rule changes.

The four-person class is the first since 2005 with fewer than six inductees. Adam Vinatieri also missed out in his first chance.

On Thursday, former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame as one of four members of the Class of 2025. Allen entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Chiefs in the 2004 NFL draft after a productive

Gates, who caught 116 touchdown passes in a 16-year career spent entirely with the Chargers, is elected alongside defensive end Jared Allen, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe and cornerback Eric Allen.

However, these four players are icons in the game, from one of the best tight ends to ever play the game to one of the most ferocious pass-rushers ever to sack opposing quarterbacks. The honorees were unveiled during Thursday night’s NFL Honors ceremony in New Orleans.

Jared Allen, whose NFL path started with the Kansas City Chiefs, has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A pass rushing specialist, Allen went on to play six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and finish his career with the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers. He racked up 136 career sacks, leading the NFL twice in that department.

Eric Allen was the epitome of a shutdown cornerback during his time with the Eagles, and the accolades for his hard work are close to being realized. The former Eagles cornerback was named one of the