Former Vikings DE Jared Allen 'legendary' for horseback Ring of Honor ceremony entrance

Former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen was inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor on Sunday, and he made sure no one would forget the ceremony. Allen rode onto the field at halftime on horseback, six years after he announced his retirement by "riding off into the sunset" on a horse. 

Jared Allen. Forever legendary.@JaredAllen69 @Vikings pic.twitter.com/p34JKXvte7

— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2022

Beyond the horse, Allen looked the part for the ceremony. He wore nearly a full suit with a mullet and a cowboy hat, and he received loud cheers when he led the crowd in the Vikings' 'skol' chant before the game.

Jared Allen leading the Skol chant #Skol pic.twitter.com/YJbRa2MIe1

— Rick Sosa (@sosarick) October 30, 2022

Allen, who spent six of his 13 NFL seasons with the Vikings, became the 27th member of the organization's Ring of Honor. One of the great sack artists of his era, Allen was one of the standouts on the 2009 Vikings team that nearly reached the Super Bowl.

Riding off into the sunset pic.twitter.com/wZXovseGKS

— Jared Allen (@JaredAllen69) February 18, 2016

Vikings pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith paid tribute to Allen in the first half, breaking out Allen's signature calf-roping celebration after a sack of Kyler Murray. 

Za'Darius Smith with the Jared Allen celebration pic.twitter.com/fyruP8TrBJ

— Matt Anderson (@MattAnderson_8) October 30, 2022

Jared Allen career stats

Allen spent only six seasons in Minnesota, but he made his mark with 85.5 sacks - an average of more than 14 per season.

Allen is sixth on the Vikings' all-time sack leaderboard, a list that includes four Hall of Famers in the top-five. Despite a fairly brief tenure with the Vikings, Allen is only 11 sacks behind Hall of Famer Chris Doleman on the franchise's sack leaderboard.

Allen recorded 136 sacks over 13 NFL seasons, starting his career with the Chiefs and finishing up with the Bears and Panthers. His 136 sacks are 16th all-time, and his 22 sacks in 2011 trail only Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt on the all-time single-season leaderboard. 

MORE: Jared Allen announces retirement in the most Jared Allen way possible

Allen was one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year, but he was passed over for the second consecutive year. Based on the players around him on the all-time sack list, it seems like Allen will get a bust in Canton at some point in the near future.

Allen is also known for chasing Dan Orlovsky when the Lions quarterback infamously ran out of the back of the end zone for a safety. 

How many players are in the Vikings Ring of Honor?

Allen is the 27th member of the Vikings' Ring of Honor, a group that includes legendary players and coaches.