The Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t just a museum in Canton—it’s the NFL’s Mount Olympus, where the game’s defensive titans are immortalized. Think of cornerbacks like Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, who redefined swagger; Rod Woodson, whose 71 interceptions still haunt QBs’ dreams; and Champ Bailey, a 12-time Pro Bowler with a 100-yard interception return that left fans speechless. These legends didn’t just play the game—they changed it, setting standards that corners today can only aspire to.

Now, think about the other side of the spectrum. Say, a wide receiver like Michael Irvin. The Cowboys‘ legend has won three Super Bowl rings. But let’s be honest—he had to grind on the gridiron against these defensive titans to earn those Super Bowl rings. The interesting part? Irvin doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that.

On Tuesday, Michael Irvin hopped up on his official IG handle and paid tribute to his Hall of Famer friends (yeah, cornerbacks). And why not? I mean, one of his friends, the Eagles‘ legend, Eric Allen, was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “COACHPRIME @officialdarrellgreen28 @rodwoodsonhof @aeneas35 @thechampbailey ALL @ProFootballHOF & NOW Eric Allen (CONGRATS) all are my great friends now!! But when rating receivers, REMEMBER YE THIS! I had to go through all these GOLD JACKETS to get my GOLD RINGS 💍💍💍,” Irvin captioned his post.

The 59-year-old NFL legend gave a shout-out to his friends and Hall of Famers, including Deion Sanders, Darrell Green, Rod Woodson, Aeneas Williams, and Champ Bailey. And now the latest induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—a six-time Pro Bowler, Eric Allen. Now, let’s be real—all these NFL legends are Irvin’s friends now. But back in the day? Yeah, they’re the ones guarding him on the field.

Back in the day, Michael Irvin, who’s now an NFL analyst, wasn’t just lining up on Sundays—he was going to war. These corners weren’t your average DBs; we’re talkin’ guys with 50+ career picks, Defensive Player of the Year honors, and highlight reels that still break the internet. Take Green for instance. The man had wheels like Sonic, still running a 4.3 at 40.

Woodson? Hands like glue—71 picks kind of glue. Bailey was a shadow and Williams turned picks into points. Last but definitely not least. Eric Allen. Quiet guy. But you can just say that he was like that final boss Irvin had to beat to earn those Super Bowl rings. He wasn’t loud, but his game did all the talking—54 interceptions, 8 pick-sixes, and lockdown coverage that gave QBs nightmares. Call him a silent assassin with the Hall of Fame written all over him.

The highlight of his career? Well, people call it the “Greatest Interception Return in NFL History.”

The time when Eric Allen recorded the greatest interception return

Erin Allen played in the NFL for 14 seasons, started in every game that he played (except for 2), but if you ask him about the best season of his career, he’s probably going to recall the 1993 season. The reason? Oh, there’ are a plenty of reasons. For starters, the Eagles legend recorded 2 full sacks, caught picks—we’re talking six of ’em, and the four that he returned for a touchdown. But the most memorable one?

That came on October 3rd against the New York Jets. Picture this: the Jets were already leading 21-0. And to make it worse, the Eagles’ QB, Randall Cunningham, left the field with a fractured fibula. When the backup QB Bubby Brister entered the field, no one would have expected of a comeback like that. The man led the Eagles to a tying 28-28 score late in the fourth quarter. But New York had no plans of giving up. They nursed a two-point lead late in the game (30-28).

BUT! The Jets’ QB Boomer Esiason did what he wasn’t supposed to do and Eric Allen did the rest of the job. Allen caught the interception inside the Eagles’ ten-yard line and recorded a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown. Final score. Eagles 36 and the Jets 30. Eagles won. After all that went down, Steve Sabol of NFL Films called that pick six as “The Greatest Interception Return in NFL History.”