Eddie Allen (fullback)

Eddie Allen
No. 3
PositionsFullback, linebacker
Personal information
Born(1918-05-05)May 5, 1918
Dansville, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 1, 2012(2012-03-01) (aged 93)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolBatavia (Batavia, New York)
CollegePennsylvania (1938–1940, 1946)
NFL draft1946: 11th round, 94th overall pick
Career history
Playing
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Coaching
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards16
Rushing average1.3
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Head coaching record
CareerCollege: 33–24–1 (.578)

Edward Bostwic Allen Jr. (May 5, 1918 – March 1, 2012) was an American professional football player who was a fullback for one season in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears and one season in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Brooklyn Dodgers.[1] Allen played college football at the University of Pennsylvania, and was head football coach at Drexel University.

Early life

Allen attended Batavia High School in Batavia, New York, where he was raised.

College and military serrvice

Allen enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania. He won varsity letters for the Penn Quakers football teams in 1939 and 1940.[2]

His college career was interrupted by service in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He served until 1945 and achieved the rank of captain.[3]

Upon leaving the military, he returned to Penn for his fourth and final season. Allen was an All-American honorable mention at Penn.

Professional football

Allen was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 94th overall pick (11th round) in the 1946 NFL draft. Allen appeared in nine games for the 1947 Chicago Bears, starting five of them. He played as both a fullback and a punter, recording 12 rushing attempts for 16 yards and eight punts for 299 yards (37.4 yards per punt average).[4]

The following year, Allen signed a contract for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference. He did not actually play for the team.[2]

Coaching career

Allen began coaching at Daniels Field in 1941.[5] After serving as head coach at Upper Darby High School for the 1949 season, Allen was hired by Drexel University as head football coach in February 1950. Allen led 1955 Drexel Dragons football team to an undefeated season, the first in school history. In eight seasons as head coach at Drexel, Allen compiled a 33–24–1 record.[6]

On January 10, 1958, Allen resigned as head coach in order to devote more time to an investment firm at which he had been recently given a major promotion.[6]

Monsters of God

In 2026, Allen was featured in the HBO/A24 documentary series, Monsters of God, for his role in an illegal reptile-smuggling enterprise in the 1970s. According to the documentary, after an investigation into reptile smuggling by Hank Molt, Allen buried alive over 50 snakes and other exotic reptiles, in a mass grave in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Allen later showed the burial site to law enforcement. According to the documentary, Allen was criminally charged and received a $10,000 fine for his role in the enterprise.[7][8]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Drexel Dragons (Independent) (1950–1957)
1950 Drexel 6–1
1951 Drexel 3–4
1952 Drexel 3–4
1953 Drexel 2–3–1
1954 Drexel 5–2
1955 Drexel 8–0
1956 Drexel 5–3
1957 Drexel 1–7
Drexel: 33–24–1
Total:33–24–1

Personal life

Allen is the father of Ted Allen, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, but never played with the team.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "New Coach" (PDF). The Triangle. February 10, 1950. p. 5. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Eddie Allen". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  3. ↑ "The end of an era as last of Flying Allens passes", Genesee County New York Official Visitor Website, March 22, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Eddie Allen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Eddie Allen Resigns As Coach At DIT; Had 33–24–1 Log" (PDF). The Triangle. January 17, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  6. 1 2 John Dell (January 11, 1958). "Allen Stuns Dexel, Quits As Grid Pilot for Business: Ex-Penn Great Gets New Job in Investment Firm". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Tom Degnan (August 3, 2026). "Gruesome Pine Barrens Story Told in New Docuseries on Reptile Smuggling". New Jersey Monthly.
  8. ↑ Erin Maxwell (August 14, 2026). "'Monsters of God': 7 Shocking Stories From HBO's A24 Reptile Smuggling Docuseries". TV Insider.
  9. ↑ "Ted Allen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
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