Jaguars DE Josh Allen changes last name to honor family

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen announced Tuesday he wants to be called Joshua Hines-Allen.

"I am deciding to change my last name," Allen said in an 82-second video posted to X. "You know, I've always been a Hines, and legacy is forever. 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."

The switch is a tribute to his mother's side of the family.

One of his sisters, Myisha Hines-Allen, is a forward for the WNBA's Washington Mystics. His sister LaTorri Hines-Allen played Division I basketball at Virginia Tech and Towson, and sister Kyra Hines-Allen played Division II hoops at Cheyney.

His uncle, Gregory Hines, starred at Hampton before being selected in the fifth round of the 1983 NBA Draft.

"It was almost destined for me to follow their footsteps," he continued. "It's going to be a surreal moment the first time I get my name announced. Growing up, having my sisters run out the tunnel, intros, lights going dark ... 'Hines-Allen.' And everybody's watching them, and I just thought it was the coolest thing. My last name is changed, but I am still that person and I'm going to continue to play like it, play even better."

Joshua Hines-Allen, who turns 27 on Saturday, is a two-time Pro Bowl selection heading into his sixth season with the Jaguars. The 2019 first-round draft pick (No. 7 overall) broke the franchise single-season record with 17.5 sacks last season.

--Field Level Media