For the first five seasons of his NFL career, he was known as Josh Allen. However, the recall for his name is difficult, given that a quarterback in Buffalo bears the same name. That’s why the Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker changed his name to Joshua Hines-Allen in honor of his family. He will also use the “Hines-Allen” surname in his jersey.
Hines-Allen is a tribute to his maternal family, and it's fitting that he's honoring both families now that he's among the league's best outside linebackers. He's not the first person in his family to use that surname in a jersey, as her sister, Myisha Hines-Allen, plays for the WNBA's Washington Mystics. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors selected his uncle, Gregory Hines, in the fifth round of the 1983 NBA Draft.
— Joshua Hines-Allen (@JoshHinesAllen) July 9, 2024
Legacy is forever, and I'm proud to carry that tradition on the back of my jersey, following in the footsteps of my family, who have donned the Hines-Allen last name with so much pride and joy. pic.twitter.com/8wAaj2hhpS
Joshua Hines-Allen signed a five-year, $150 million contract extension this offseason, making him the highest-paid NFL linebacker in terms of annual average value. He's coming off a breakout season with a career-high 17.5 sacks, a franchise record for the team that selected him seventh overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. In 2021, he sacked quarterback Josh Allen, making him the first NFL player to register a sack against a player with the same name.
-Lance Fernandez