Ricardo Allen

Ricardo Jamal Allen (born December 18, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, with whom he played seven seasons before playing his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals. After his playing career, he coached two seasons with the Miami Dolphins and was released after the 2023 season.

Allen attended Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida. Allen committed to Purdue University on October 16, 2009.

As a freshman at Purdue in 2010, Allen recorded 73 total tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack, three interceptions, two pick-sixes, and seven passes defended. As a sophomore in 2011, he recorded 79 total tackles, three tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, one pick-six, one forced fumble, and seven passes defended. As a junior in 2012, Allen broke the Purdue record for interceptions for touchdowns. In total, he recorded 45 total tackles, four sacks, one tackle-for-loss, one pick six, and five passes defended. He was a second team All-Big Ten Conference selection. As a senior in 2013, he recorded 53 total tackles, four tackles-for-loss, one sack, six interceptions, three passes defended, and one forced fumble.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Allen in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2014 NFL draft. Allen was the 18th cornerback selected in 2014.

On May 18, 2014, the Falcons signed Allen to a four-year, $2.42 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $200,500.

Throughout training camp, he competed against Robert McClain, Josh Wilson, and Javier Arenas for the job as the starting nickelback. Throughout the preseason, he saw minimal playing time on defense. On August 28, 2014, Allen recorded four solo tackles and deflected his second pass of the preseason during a 24–14 victory at the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Falcons' fourth preseason game. On August 30, 2014, Allen was released by the Falcons as part of their final roster cuts. On September 2, 2014, the Falcons signed him to the practice squad and retained five cornerbacks on the active roster, including Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, Wilson, McClain, and Arenas.

On December 16, 2014, the Falcons promoted Allen to the active roster after fellow defensive back Robert Alford was sent to injured reserve. On December 29, 2014, the Falcons fired head coach Mike Smith after they finished third in the NFC South with a 6–10 record in 2014. He was inactive for the Falcons last two regular season games and did not record a stat during his rookie season.

Entering organized team activities, the new Falcons' coaching staff opted to move Allen from cornerback to safety. The change was due to the Falcons failing to secure a new free safety to replace Dwight Lowery and to give Allen a better opportunity to make the active roster. He competed for the job as the starting free safety against Charles Godfrey and Kemal Ishmael. Head coach Dan Quinn named Allen the starting free safety to begin the regular season, alongside strong safety William Moore.