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Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE @ProFootballHOF 03/14/16

Contact: Pete Fierle, Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications [email protected]; 330-588-3622

MARCUS ALLEN TO APPEAR AT HALL OF FAME FOR “GOLD JACKET GREAT DAY” ON APRIL 22 HALL OF FAME RUNNING BACK TO PARTICIPATE IN “CHALK TALK” AND PHOTO OPS WITH FANS

CANTON, OHIO – Hall of Fame running back will return to Canton on Friday, April 22 as the featured guest for “Gold Jacket Great Day” that will provide fans with an intimate setting to interact with the football great.

Allen was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003, his first year of eligibility. The former Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Southern California was drafted in the first round in 1982 by the Raiders. He embarked on a legendary career that spanned from 1982-1992 with the Raiders and 1993-97 with the . Allen, the Most Valuable Player of XVIII, became the the first player in history to accumulate 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards in a career.

Tickets to the “Gold Jacket Great Day” go on sale Wednesday, March 16 at 10:00 am ET and are $199 in advance or $229 if purchased on the day of the event. Each ticket includes:

• Meet-and-Greet that includes taking a photo with Marcus • Autograph Session • Entry into a “Chalk Talk” • Museum admission • Parking

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

The Hall of Fame opens at 9 am and will have extended hours through 8 pm that day. Registration for the “Gold Jacket Great Day” begins at 2 pm. First-come, first-serve seating for a special “Chalk Talk” starts at 3 pm and the program is set for 4 pm.

Hall of Fame Executive Vice President Joe Horrigan, regarded as the world’s most foremost historian on the game of pro football, will moderate the “Chalk Talk.” Allen will reflect on his journey to Canton and also participate in a Q&A with the audience.

The autograph session will take place at 5:30 pm. Guests are permitted one autograph and also given the opportunity to pose with Allen and his Bronzed Bust for a photo taken on a personal phone or camera. A professional photographer will also be taking photos that guests may purchase at the end of the event.

For more event information and to purchase tickets: ProFootballHOF.com/events/gold-jacket-great-days-marcus-allen/

Allen will also be on hand Saturday, April 23 to give “high fives” to all runners crossing the finish line of the Gold Jacket 5k race at the Hall that day.

MORE ABOUT MARCUS ALLEN

Born • March 26, 1960 in San Diego, Calif.

NFL Career Stats • 12,243 rushing yards • 5,411 receiving yards • 145

Honors • 1981 Heisman Trophy winner (one of nine Heisman Trophy winners enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame) • 1982 NFL Rookie of the Year • All-Pro in 1982 and 1985 • All-AFC four times • Six Pro Bowls • 1985 NFL Most Valuable Player • 1993 NFL Comeback Player of the Year

Enshrinement • Enshrined on August 3, 2003 • His father Harold “Red” Allen served as his presenter • Excerpts from Marcus’s Enshrinement speech:

COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE

• “Words do not measure the profound feeling I have at this moment that my father presented me. He vowed to be the father that he didn't have. He's been that and more.”

• “The genesis of my football life began many years ago with the inspiration of many of these gentlemen behind me. At 10 years old, I donned on the pads and I played for a pee wee team called the Lions. And I thought the player that inspired me the most because I was a cornerback was .”

• “And, to (USC coach) John Robinson, my favorite coach, the greatest teacher- psychologist-motivator that ever came across.”

• “To the Los Angeles Raiders, I'd like to thank Mr. for drafting me. Mr. , and Coach Tom Flores for putting his faith and trust in a rookie.”

• “To the Kansas City Chiefs, and Mr. , one of the kindest, most generous, most thoughtful man I ever met in my entire life. Thank you so much for allowing me to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. Carl Peterson, thank you. , thank you. I love football. It's my DNA. Thank you for giving me the shot in the arm that I needed at that time in my life. I appreciate it.”

• “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was so privileged and lucky to play this incredible game with so many incredible people.”

ABOUT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the , the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Mission is to Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve its History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE.

Hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually to experience the exciting museum that chronicles America’s most popular sport. Millions more are reached through the Hall of Fame’s 100-plus special events held annually outside Canton and through the multiple nationally broadcast programs focused on the selection of the newest Class of Enshrinees – Edward DeBartolo, Jr., , , Kevin Greene, , , and – and the Enshrinement Weekend (Aug. 4-7, 2016). Now in its third year of traveling, Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a large-scale traveling exhibition that presents a panoramic view of pro football’s story and includes hundreds of artifacts from the Hall’s expansive collection. Gridiron Glory will be showcased at the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, Calif., site of Super Bowl 50, from Jan. 18-April 3, 2016 and is scheduled for three-month stays at various museums and cultural institutions through 2019. Enshrinees from the Class of 2016 along with numerous other Hall of Fame members will receive the spectacular Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence by Kay® Jewelers during ceremonies held in NFL stadiums during the 2016 NFL regular season. The Hometown Hall of Famer™ program presented by Ford honors Hall of Fame heroes with a program and permanent plaque to honor the Hall of Famer’s hometown support. Now in its 4th year, the US Army-Pro Football Hall of Fame Award for Excellence honors 20 high school students nationally for excellence in community service, academics and athletics. Construction on HOF Village, a $476 million development project, is under way in Canton to transform the Hall of Fame’s campus.

For more information about the Pro Football Hall of Fame, please visit ProFootballHOF.com; @ProFootballHOF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

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COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • COURAGE • RESPECT • EXCELLENCE