Allen, Marcus (1960-…), ranks among the greatest running backs in football history. He became known for both his rushing and pass-catching skills as well as his durability. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1984 Super Bowl, in which he led the Los Angeles (now Las Vegas) Raiders to victory over the Washington Redskins (now called the Washington Commanders), 38-9.
Allen was born in San Diego on March 26, 1960. He played for the University of Southern California from 1978 to 1981, winning the Heisman Trophy his senior year as the country’s outstanding college player. He was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL in 1982 and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year. Allen led the league in rushing in 1985 and set a record for combined yards rushing and pass receiving. Allen’s record was broken by Barry Sanders in 1997. The current recordholder is Chris Johnson, who gained 2,509 yards in 2009. In 1985 and 1986, Allen rushed for more than 100 yards in 11 straight games, then an NFL record. In 1993, Allen signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent. He retired after the 1997 season and became a football commentator on television. Allen was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
