In 2015, the Carolina Panthers made a notable move by acquiring veteran defensive end Jared Allen from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. The trade was completed quickly after Allen requested to be moved, as he saw limited prospects with the Bears and wanted an opportunity to compete for a championship before retiring.
Allen approached then-Bears coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace after a loss to the Seahawks left Chicago at 0-3. “I went to Fox and Ryan Pace, and I knew I was retiring after that year, and I asked them to trade me,” Allen said. “They didn’t want to at first, and I’m like, I’m retiring, we have a group full of young guys. Let me go somewhere and just have fun my last year. Let me try to get a ring, right?”
The Panthers had just improved their record to 3-0 but lost starting defensive end Charles Johnson to a hamstring injury that would sideline him for half the season. Johnson recognized the need for reinforcement: “I knew we had a good team, and I knew I was going to be out for eight weeks,” he said. “You know your personnel, who you got here, so I knew we needed it at the time, and I was happy because I was like, man, this guy is good.”
General manager Dave Gettleman acted swiftly with assistant GM Brandon Beane and others following Johnson’s injury. Beane recalled: “We watched him, and you know, yes, he’s nearing the end, but he’s still got something left… It just made too much sense for us.” Head coach Ron Rivera agreed when presented with the idea: “Oh yeah, absolutely,” Rivera said.
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott also supported the move: “We needed to find some help… they said hey we’re targeting Jared, and I’m like ‘Yeah.'”
Negotiations between Gettleman and Pace moved rapidly. Gettleman described it as taking only about three phone calls: “It doesn’t take long… if both parties come to the table ready to negotiate.” The deal was finalized less than 12 hours after Chicago’s return from Seattle.
The sixth-round pick used in the trade became No. 206 overall due to Carolina’s strong season finish at 15-1. The Bears later packaged that pick in a deal during the 2016 draft.
Allen’s arrival gave an immediate morale boost in Carolina’s locker room. Linebacker Luke Kuechly commented: “When you go trade for a guy in-season like Jared Allen, it tells the guys… they’re serious about what we’re trying to do.” Defensive tackle Kawann Short noted Allen’s impact on team culture: “It was just an honor to even meet him… then he walks in; it’s like there’s another Hall of Famer.”
Although Allen’s production had declined—he recorded only two sacks with Carolina—his presence contributed positively during their Super Bowl run. Running back Jonathan Stewart reflected on Allen’s influence: “That’s also a moment where you realize… we’ve got something special.”
For Allen himself, joining Carolina brought renewed enjoyment late in his career: “I got to Carolina and joy, joy got brought back into football,” he said.
The trade remains significant as Allen prepares for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame—a testament both to his career achievements and his brief but meaningful tenure with Carolina.
