Former Saints Evans, Allen selected as Hall of Fame semifinalists

By Ross Jackson

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its list of 25 modern-era players to be selected as semifinalists. A minimum of four and as man as eight of them will be inducted as a part of the 2025 class. Among them are two former New Orleans Saints. 

Former cornerback Eric Allen and current offensive assistant and former offensive guard Jahri Evans have made it through as semifinalists. 

Allen was with the Saints from 1995 to 1997 after entering the league in 1988 as a Philadelphia Eagles draft selection. He started all 48 possible games with the team, grabbing 5 interceptions and wrangling 160 tackles. He had 54 interceptions and 738 total tackles over the course of his 14-year career. He was a finalist in last year’s Hall of Fame class. 

Evans, who was inducted into the Saints Ring of Honor Sunday, was with New Orleans from 2006 until 2016. He was drafted by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Evans is widely known as the greatest guard in the team’s history and one of the best to take an NFL field. He has been on the Saints’ coaching staff since 2022. 

Evans was a semifinalist in the first year of his eligibility in 2023 and a finalist for last year’s class. 

There’s a solid chance that at least one former Saints player will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.