Jacksonville Jaguars star linebacker Josh Allen has announced a significant personal change: he will now go by the name Josh Hines-Allen.
This revelation came via a video he posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, where he explained the heartfelt reasons behind his decision.
In his post, Hines-Allen expressed his pride in adopting the last name that his sisters and other family members share. “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,” he wrote.
In the accompanying video, Hines-Allen elaborated on the importance of family to him, particularly given his family’s rich athletic history. “Family is important to me because when you come from a rich history of athletic people in your family, and myself being the youngest one, to go to all my sister’s games, to know what my uncles did in college and in the NBA, it just means something a little bit more,” he said. “It was almost destined for me to follow their footsteps.”
Josh Hines-Allen’s sister, Myisha Hines-Allen, is a professional basketball player for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. Their uncle, Gregory Hines, was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1983 after a standout career at Hampton University. Additionally, his sisters LaTorri and Kyra played Division I and Division II college basketball, respectively, while another uncle, Keith, played for Montclair State University.
Despite the name change, Hines-Allen assured fans that his performance on the field would remain stellar. “My last name is changed but I am still that person and I’m going to continue to play like it, play even better,” he said. “Now it’s like, I have the attention of people that are interested, they saw what I did last year, so now I can create my narrative on what I want to do. And that’s why I think right now is the perfect time.”
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Hines-Allen had a standout season in 2023, recording 17.5 sacks and earning his second-career Pro Bowl selection. His exceptional performance was rewarded with a five-year, $141.25 million contract extension.
As the Jaguars gear up for the 2024 season, they will start their campaign against the Miami Dolphins on September 8. Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely as Josh Hines-Allen embarks on this new chapter, both personally and professionally.