Carolina Panthers

Jared Allen gave us more than sacks, specifically an awesome dance and a mullet

Published Feb. 18, 2016 2:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

Defensive end Jared Allen went out in style on Thursday, retiring with this badass video announcement.

In a league with so many cookie-cutter players who give you canned quotes, Allen gave us a lot of reasons to like him over his 12 seasons. He may have never won a Super Bowl, but here are some reasons we'll remember him fondly.

THE MULLET IS A 'LIFESTYLE'

Allen had one of the greatest hairdos in NFL history, and an even better explanation for it. "The mullet isn't a hairdo. It's definitely a lifestyle," he said. Check out why he felt like it was an ode to the guys who wore it in the 1980s:

QUITE VALUABLE

When Allen was unhappy with the Chiefs, he forced a trade to the Vikings for one first-round and two third-round picks in the 2008 draft. Eventually he signed a four-year deal with the Bears prior to the 2014 season, but Chicago dealt him this past season for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2016.

HE WAS A 'JACKASS'

Allen really knew how to have fun on the field and off it. Check out this clip of Allen hanging out with the crew of MTV's Jackass. We're not sure they will remember it as fondly as he did, because some of this really looks like it hurt.

HAVING FUN WITH THE MEDIA

Allen didn't mince words, most of the time, either. Here's one of many of his candid media sessions prior to the Vikings visiting Seattle.

"Yeah, it makes it fun . . . No offense to Jacksonville, or a team like that. But you go to Seattle. it's loud, trash-talking. That's how it's supposed to be," he said, but check out the full clip below.

AND THE SACKS

Allen was always a sack master. Check out this wild stat that puts Allen's career in perspective:

Jared Allen had 8 seasons w/11+ sacks. Since 1982, only Reggie White & Bruce Smith had more https://t.co/ZcCnOz4DAH https://t.co/U7M9GUDGGh
— ProFootballReference (@pfref) February 18, 2016

In 2011, Allen was a force. He came a half-sack shy of breaking Michael Strahan's single-season record.

THAT SACK DANCE

Allen, 33, finishes his career with 136 sacks, good for ninth overall (tied with Julius Peppers) and just ahead of DeMarcus Ware (134.5). Pretty good company. Every time he did that, we got to see this:

Thanks for the memories, Jared.