Nostalgia fills the air thinking of the star-studded early 2000s Oakland Raiders. That team had a three-year stretch of playoff football and eventually a Super Bowl appearance in 2002. Riding high off the announcement that he’ll be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, Eric Allen went down memory lane with his broadcast partner, J.T. The Brick, and a surprise guest, Jon Gruden.
The former Raiders head coach (and Allen’s coach when he arrived with the Silver and Black) was jubilant as he listed off some of his former players who’ll be joined by the former cornerback. “How about having two Hall of Fame cornerbacks! We got Rich Gannon, Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, and Steve Wisniewski. Congratulations, EA. Can’t wait to see you go in this summer.”
Allen, in kind, spoke with reverence, recalling their first meeting as members of the Raiders. Prior to that, Allen was a player for the Philadelphia Eagles while Gruden was the offensive coordinator.
“Coach, you know I love you—that first day in Alameda when we were talking back and forth about those early days in Philadelphia.”
Eric Allen will be joining elite Raiders company in Canton…
There is no other quarterback to win the MVP award while wearing Silver and Black. Gannon is arguably the best quarterback the franchise has ever seen. Wisniewski, whom Gruden mentioned, was a 2025 semifinalist for the Hall of Fame and was part of a formidable offensive line that also featured Lincoln Kennedy. Looking back, Gruden was able to catapult an aging quarterback to success in his offense.
The other cornerback that Gruden was referring to is, of course, Charles Woodson.
Before there were Travis Hunters in the world, there was Woodson. He was the Heisman winner in 1998 and one of the best two-way players ever. Not only was he a ball hawk, but he was also an occasional weapon on offense.
As for Allen, he joined the team as a seasoned veteran from the Eagles. He was on the opposing side of Woodson and helped mentor him as a player. Additionally, the veteran finished his 2000 campaign with six interceptions. His influence led No. 24 to have a Hall of Fame career.
This group was special and was the last time Raider fans could have confidence in their team. No wonder Gruden and Allen are so appreciative of this group.
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