From the fields of New Canaan to the bright lights of the NFL, Zach Allen‘s story is the stuff sports dreams are made of! This Connecticut kid has been crushing it with his non-stop motor and Swiss Army knife defensive skills – and nobody’s been cheering louder than Mom and Dad! They’ve had front-row seats to Zach’s determination since he was just a little guy with big dreams, always there to fuel that fire. Now watching their boy suit up for the Broncos (after cutting his NFL teeth with the Cardinals back in 2019), they must be grinning from ear to ear! Talk about a proud parents moment!

Standing at 6-foot-5, and weighing 285 pounds, Zach had the best season of his career recently, recording a career-high 8.5 sacks. And now, he ranks third among interior defensive linemen. Even though he did not receive the 2025 Pro Bowl nod, he has made his parents, Kenneth and Irene excessively proud, which is no less consequential.

Who are Michael and Irene Allen?

Zach Allen’s parents, Michael and Irene, have always been supportive of Zach’s career, providing him the autonomy to make decisions of his own. Zach’s mother, Irene Allen has also established a distinct identity of her own. Circa 1985 to 1987, she was a cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins while she was a student at the University of Miami.

At that moment, Dolphins were in its golden era, which made Irene’s performances more memorable. She performed exquisitely during the 1985 Monday Night Football game as the Dolphins dominated the Chicago Bears.

Recalling those days, Irene remarked, “It was very glamorous. Back then, the Dolphins were everything. And Dan Marino was everything,” as highlighted in the 2019 article by The Palm Beach Post. She also represented the Dolphins at many events, like the Coca-Cola College All-Star Game in Japan. Not just this, she was also performing when Princess Diana and Prince Charles visited Palm Beach.

On the other hand, Michael Allen, Zach’s dad has maintained a low profile. But nonetheless, he actively supports his son’s career. He enrolled his son in a chess club, and later he also won the national tournament. And, he also motivated his son to pursue football, even when Zach was on the verge of giving up.

How did Zach’s parents help him actualize his NFL dreams?

After his freshman year, Zach made a life-altering decision to quit football and focus on academics. He decided to pursue basketball and baseball and conveyed it to his parents. He recalled, “It wasn’t just an overnight thing. We had talked about it for more than a week,” as highlighted in The Athletic article from 2023. But, his dad was not ready for it.

Zach informed his coach Lou Marinelli regarding it, but Marinelli decided to talk to Michael about it. He told Michael, “I’m just telling you, this is a big mistake. I think he really has a future in this football thing,” as stated in the same article. As the 45-minute call ended, Zach was hopeful his dad would back him up. But Michael remarked, “Let’s just give it a chance for one more year.”

Michael has always ensured that Zach was committed to his sports. Even though the weather in Connecticut was freezing, he used to practice with Zach in his pre-teen years. But, both Michael and Irene had modest goals for him as they did not want to pressure him.

Irene said, “We thought he’d go maybe to an Ivy school and play football,” as highlighted in The Gardner News article from 2018. But Zach has shown exceptional skills since always, and Irene is very proud of him.

She even remarked, “Zach’s probably one of the most accountable people I’ve been around.” When he used to play during his college years, Irene recalled, “We’re always sitting there in the dark at Alumni Stadium, waiting for him to come out.” Now, the hard work has paid off, and Zach’s parents couldn’t have been prouder.