JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars defensive finish Josh Hines-Allen was on the EverBank Stadium discipline early within the spring of 2022 eager about the legacy he wished to construct.
He was by himself, refining the strategies that may ultimately assist him turn into one of many NFL’s finest cross rushers. Throughout a relaxation interval, he appeared across the stadium and browse the names of the six gamers who’ve been inducted into the Delight of the Jaguars — the membership’s ring of honor — hoping his title would be a part of them sometime.
At that second, it appeared distant.
“I was working really hard. I was waking up really early,” Hines-Allen remembered. “And I’m looking up there and I’m seeing [Hall of Fame offensive tackle] Tony Boselli and I’m seeing all these guys. I’m like, ‘I’m going to put my name up there.’”
Whereas he delivered one of many crew’s most important performs later that following season — returning a fumble for a landing in Week 18 to assist the Jaguars win the AFC South — Hines-Allen wasn’t seeing the progress he’d hoped would consequence from all the additional coaching. He completed the season with half a sack much less (7) than the season earlier than (7.5). Consequently, he labored tougher final offseason.
All of the work he was doing paid off in 2023. Hines-Allen recorded a franchise-record 17.5 sacks, which was tied for second within the NFL behind Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. He additionally had profession highs in QB pressures (96) and strain price (19.6%). That efficiency earned him his second Professional Bowl choice and a five-year, $141.25 million contract extension this offseason. And now, getting into his sixth NFL season, he wants simply 10.5 extra sacks to interrupt the Jaguars’ profession file (55) set by Tony Brackens.
Hines-Allen, 27, has set an ordinary for himself. If he can proceed that in 2024 and past stays to be seen — however he’s motivated by legacy.
Hines-Allen talks usually about constructing his legacy on and off the sector. It’s why he modified his final title from Allen to Hines-Allen this offseason and why it’s vital for him to dwell as much as (and surpass) his household’s athletic lineage. It’s why he performed in a Kentucky bowl sport regardless of being a high draft prospect. And it’s why he desires to be the defensive participant of the 12 months, win a Tremendous Bowl with the Jaguars and be chosen the sport’s MVP.
What Hines-Allen did in 2023 is a superb begin, however should preserve duplicating it to get the place he — and the Jaguars — wish to go. Head coach Doug Pederson in contrast him to Corridor of Famer Reggie White in his consideration to element, the best way he places in further work, and the way vital it’s for him to be a terrific participant. White was a game-wrecker all through his profession, and that’s what Hines-Allen must be.
“The challenge is for any player in that position, that has had success the year before is, can you do it again?” Pederson stated. “And you have to do it again.”
That’s how you permit your mark on the sport.
“I’m a legacy type of guy,” Hines-Allen stated. “I want to leave a legacy everywhere I go.”
UNTIL THIS OFFSEASON, he was identified simply as Josh Allen — utilizing solely his father’s surname. Lately he went via a months-long course of to legally change his title to pay tribute to his mom’s final title and honor the legacy of the Hines household.
Hines-Allen grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, listening to tales about his uncle Gregory “Duncan” Hines’ exploits on the basketball courtroom and watching his three older sisters excel at Montclair Excessive Faculty and go on to play faculty basketball.
Hines, who was inducted into the Hampton College Athletics Corridor of Fame in 2009 (his 1,967 factors are nonetheless second all time), was drafted by Golden State in 1983. He by no means performed for the Warriors however did play professionally for 12 years.
But it surely’s Myisha Hines-Allen whom Josh considers as his measuring stick.
“My whole goal as an athlete is to beat my sister,” he stated.
Josh’s older sister starred at Louisville and was a second-round decide (No. 19 total) by the WNBA’s Washington Mystics in 2018. Myisha — who was traded from the Mystics to the Minnesota Lynx earlier this month — is now in her seventh season and received the WNBA title in 2019.
“The football achievements are very cool, and I love going home and I love looking at the trophies and seeing the work that I put in, but that doesn’t mean anything until I beat my sister,” he added.
“… She goes into the league [WNBA]. What’s my step? I have to go. She gets drafted. I remember that night. I was like, I have to get drafted higher. Got drafted higher than her. Cool. Now I’m up on her, and then she wins a championship. I’m like, ‘Well s—, I’ve got to win a championship.’ And the MVP once we get there. A Super Bowl and an MVP.”
Myisha, 28, is flattered however not stunned. The 2 have been competing towards one another — and their siblings — their whole lives.
“It’s just the annoying little brother aspect,” she joked. “… It doesn’t matter what we were doing, whether it’s sports or just life in general, who can walk to school the fastest, things like that. So, it was always just wanting to one-up the next.”
WHEN HE WALKED onto Kentucky’s campus in 2015, Hines-Allen instructed head coach Mark Stoops that he wished to be the most effective participant Stoops ever coached.
Hines-Allen performed in each sport over 4 years (35 begins) at Kentucky. By the tip, he was one of many nation’s finest gamers, profitable the SEC’s Defensive Participant of the Yr award, the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy, and the Jack Lambert Award after main the SEC with 17 sacks. Getting into the draft, he was thought to be a lock to be a top-10 decide.
Stoops stated it’s one thing Hines-Allen instructed him whereas driving house from the airport after profitable a kind of awards that represents the form of legacy he left in Lexington.
Kentucky was making ready to face Penn State within the 2018 Citrus Bowl and a victory would give the Wildcats 10 victories for the primary time since 1977.
“He could have very easily just said, ‘Man, there’s just too much going on right now,’” Stoops stated. “And he was very matter of fact and very to the point like, ‘Nope, I’m playing.’ And that’s it. And not only did he play, he went out there and he had three sacks and helped us to beat Penn State, win 10 games. So that’s just who he is.”
And now, Stoops stated Hines-Allen — who’s Kentucky’s all-time sacks chief (31.5) — is certainly one of three gamers he’d contemplate the most effective who’ve performed for him, together with safeties Ed Reed and Sean Taylor, each of whom he coached whereas he was an assistant on the College of Miami.
“When I took over Ed, he was already an All-American,” Stoops stated, “and with Josh, I helped him come from a two-star from [Montclair] to return to Kentucky and shine within the SEC and turn into certainly one of, if not the most effective participant in Kentucky historical past.
“And definitely either the best or one of the very best I’ve ever coached.”
HINES-ALLEN WAS DRAFTED No. 7 total by the Jaguars in 2019. He set a franchise rookie file with 10.5 sacks and made the Professional Bowl in his first season however handled a knee damage in 2020 that landed him on injured reserve. Over the subsequent two seasons, he had 14.5 sacks mixed and had fleeting moments the place he was a game-changing participant.
Final season, enjoying on the final 12 months of his contract, Hines-Allen broke the Jaguars’ single-season sack file (14.5; set by Calais Campbell in 2017). Three months after that standout efficiency, the Jaguars rewarded Hines-Allen with an enormous five-year contract.
It’s unfair to count on Hines-Allen to hit 17.5 sacks once more in 2024, however he’s in a very good scenario to achieve double-digits once more and cross Brackens. Travon Walker, who’s coming off a profession season (10 sacks), is on the other aspect of the formation and the Jaguars added defensive finish Arik Armstead (33 profession sacks) in March. Offenses received’t be capable to focus on stopping solely Hines-Allen with these two by his aspect.
New coordinator Ryan Nielsen has been with Hines-Allen for less than seven months, however what he has seen in that point is sufficient to persuade him the awards and accolades Hines-Allen seeks are attainable.
“It’s all about practice, work, preparation, how he is in the meetings,” Nielsen stated. “Then go on the market and win each block. That’s actually what it’s about: Do your job on each block. Not essentially make each play, however simply win each block.
“He’s fully capable of doing that, but that takes focus, takes determination, a little bit of toughness rolled in there — and he has it.”
But when Hines-Allen desires to be thought-about the most effective defensive participant in franchise historical past, he should surpass Brackens’ sack file.
“[Brackens] has been the sack leader for more than 20 years. No one’s even come close,” stated Brian Sexton, a Jaguars historian and the franchise’s unique radio play-by-play announcer who’s now a senior correspondent for the crew. “For those who ask Boselli otherwise you ask anybody who performed with him … anytime he put his hand on the bottom, he modified the course of the sport — or he may change the course of the sport.
“And Josh has the ability to be that kind of player. He showed it to us a little bit in 2022, a lot more in 2023. … And that’s what we have to see from Josh to be the best player on the defensive side in franchise history.”
And doubtlessly the most effective in NFL historical past, Campbell stated.
“He’s going to continue to get better and better and I think he has a shot to get a gold jacket one day,” Campbell stated. ” … The fellows who’re the most effective gamers within the league, the factor that motivates them is legacy.”
However on the sector, it at all times comes again to at least one factor: one-upping Myisha.
“My sister has won a professional championship, so she’s up on me,” he stated. “… I’m not going to cease till I get that. That’s motivating me. That’s larger than cash.
“For me, if I can do that and bring the first [Super Bowl] win to Jacksonville, and be MVP, that’s my goal. I’m not stopping until I get there.”
