Six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Eric Allen had a yell of a year in 1993. For one thing, he recorded two whole sacks-just one short of his career total. But more pressingly, he did what cornerbacks do--caught picks, six in all, and an astounding four that he returned for touchdowns, easily leading the league and tying Ken Houston and Jim Kearney's all-time single-season record. The most memorable of these came on October 3rd in a game against the New York Jets, in a pick six that Steve Sabol of NFL Films called "The Greatest Interception Return in NFL History."
The Jets jumped out to a 21-0 lead early in the game, and Eagles QB Randall Cunningham checked out early on with a fractured fibula. But Eagles backup Bubby Brister led an unlikely comeback effort, tying the game at 28-28 late in the period. But after a Jets safety, the Birds were down 30-28, with New York nursing a two point lead and the clock late in the game. But Jets QB Boomer Esiason got a little careless inside the Eagles' ten-yard line, and Eric Allen made him pay to the tune of a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown. Final score: Eagles 35, Jets 30.
Allen played one more season for the Eagles, before leaving to spend the second half of his career in New Orlenas and Oakland. He retired with 54 interceptions, good for 19th all-time, with eight pick sixes, good for sixth.
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